The Nigerian House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government, led by President Bola Tinubu, to urgently restore the lost prestige of the country’s first-generation universities, including Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, the University of Ibadan (UI), and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). This appeal followed the overwhelming adoption of a motion titled “Need to Upgrade First-Generation Universities and Investigate the Quality and Standards of TETFUND Projects Across Federal Universities in Nigeria,” sponsored by Hon. Aderemi Oseni during a recent plenary session.
Hon. Oseni highlighted that these universities, established in the early 1960s, were once academies of excellence that commanded global respect due to their outstanding infrastructure, highly qualified lecturers, and vibrant academic environments. However, persistent neglect, chronic underfunding, and infrastructural decay have eroded their academic standing and deteriorated essential campus facilities such as lecture halls, hostels, auditoriums, and even the once-popular university zoos.
The lawmakers expressed deep concern over the poor quality of recent Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) projects, with some new constructions already showing signs of decay, starkly contrasting with the durability of buildings constructed decades ago. In response, the House has mandated a comprehensive investigation into the quality and standards of these projects to ensure accountability and value for public investment.
Further, the House urged the Federal Ministries of Education and Finance, the National Universities Commission, TETFund, and development partners to collaborate on sustainable strategies for rehabilitating and upgrading these institutions. Committees on University Education and TETFund have also been charged to audit ongoing and completed tertiary education projects nationwide and report within four weeks for legislative follow-up.
Once the pride of Africa and magnets for international scholars and students, these first-generation universities have seen their global competitiveness diminish due to decades of neglect and inadequate funding. The House of Representatives’ resolution signals a critical push toward reviving these historic institutions to their former glory, ensuring they regain their status as benchmarks of academic quality in Nigeria and beyond.
