Nigerian Students Call for Urgent Reforms in Universities

Nigerian university students have called for urgent reforms to raise the quality of university education, saying poor facilities, rising costs and weak preparation for the job market are holding the system back.

 

The students said the country's universities have the potential to produce graduates who can compete anywhere in the world. They listed poor infrastructure, inadequate practical training and limited preparation for employment among the problems weighing on the system.

 

Ewache Nelson, a 100-level Public Administration student at Benue State University, Makurdi, said the system's strengths were being undercut by funding and stability problems.

 

"In my opinion, the Nigerian education system, particularly at the university level, has great potential but still faces many challenges.

 

"Nigerian universities have qualified lecturers and students with the ability to excel.

 

"But issues of inadequate facilities, poor funding and frequent academic disruptions are holding us back," he said.

 

Nelson pointed to the high cost of education, poor internet access, limited accommodation and unreliable electricity as everyday difficulties for students. He called for more funding, better infrastructure and stronger partnerships between universities and industry.

 

"Universities should also strengthen practical and vocational training, encourage research and innovation, improve teaching methods, and make administrative processes more efficient," he said.

 

He also urged the introduction of more internships, entrepreneurship programmes and career guidance to prepare students for work and life after graduation.

 

Ogebe Judge, a 200-level student of the Nigerian University of Technology and Management (NUTM), described the system as "severely lacking in many aspects."

 

According to Judge, "the curriculum is outdated and rigid." He said federal and state universities were overcrowded, while private universities remained too expensive for many Nigerians.

 

He said the rising cost of living was pushing some students into jobs while still in school.

 

"Most students don't have enough money to survive and due to the ever-rising cost of living, they have to work to sustain themselves while in school, which often affects their academic performance," he said.

 

Judge said universities were not adequately preparing students for the workplace, and that graduates needed practical and job-ready skills beyond their degrees.

 

"The skills required to find and maintain sustainable employment in Nigeria today aren't taught at most universities," he said.

 

He called for curriculum reform, affordable education, more job opportunities, food and transport subsidies, and skills and career training for students.

 

Mojeed Davies, a 400-level Chemistry student at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), took a more positive view, though he said the system had its limits.

 

"The education system is good. You can see from the number of brilliant and incredible ones that graduated and are doing well globally.

 

"However, there are some limitations to how far the system could go," Davies said.

 

He called for better digital infrastructure and a move away from mostly theoretical teaching towards more practical learning.

 

"We are in the modern era where students spend ridiculous amounts on data in order to get access to free resources that could help their studies online," he said.

 

Davies added that students needed to build critical thinking, problem-solving and teamwork skills to prepare for life after school.

 

Okpalanedu Martha, a 400-level student of Development and Strategic Communication Studies at the University of Abuja, described the situation as worrisome. She cited poor learning environments, inadequate hostel accommodation and the high cost of living.

 

Martha called for more scholarships, business grants and skills-development opportunities, as well as better conditions for students and lecturers. She argued that lecturers' salaries were not commensurate with the work they do.

 

On preparing for employment, she said her industrial training (IT) had shown her what lies beyond the classroom.

 

"As a student that just completed her IT training, I saw life way beyond school walls, and that's huge for me," she said, calling for more practical exposure for students.

 

 

Olorunloju Naomi, a 200-level Mass Communication student of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), called for a robust orientation programme for prospective students.

 

"Students should be made aware of what they are getting into. Orientation should be done even before they gain admission," she said.

 

Naomi said universities were not fully preparing students for employment and life after graduation.

 

"Nigerian universities provide academic knowledge but students also need more practical skills and career guidance to prepare them for employment and life after graduation," she said.

 

Taken together, the students urged the government and university authorities to improve infrastructure, ease the financial burden on students, strengthen practical learning and widen opportunities for skills development. They also called for better career guidance and closer links between universities and industry, so that students gain relevant skills and experience before they graduate.