Why Nigerian universities’ global rating is low —Chrisland Varsity VC

The vice chancellor of Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Professor Chinedum Babalola, has identified incessant strike actions by the academic staff as one of the major reasons the rating of Nigeria’s universities is low compared to their peers globally.

According to her, industrial disputes by the academic staff of universities has impacted negatively on the quality and standard of tertiary education in the country, saying the Federal Government should address the demands of lecturers to save the nation’s tertiary education from imminent collapse.

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Professor Babalola spoke with Tribune Education in Osogbo, noting that though industrial actions had been yielding positive results, including improved funding and infrastructure, as well as staff welfare, their frequency and disruption of academic activities had continued to lower the country’s education ranking within the global circle.

“It has become a case of one strike too many. ASUU strike in Nigeria has become a perennial phenomenon and inimical to our tertiary education system. It lowers our ranking at the global level,” she said.

Babalola contended that “industrial actions had remained an albatross in the public universities and had been disrupting smooth running of the affected institutions.

The vice chancellor disclosed that Chrisland University had recorded success in the accreditation of its nine courses by the National Universities Commission after the programmes were presented to the commission in October/ November 2018 year for accreditation.

Babalola said the nine courses accredited by the commission include Accounting, Business Administration, Biochemistry, Computer Science, Microbiology, Economics, Criminology and Security Studies, Political Science and Psychology.

She lauded the chancellor of the university, Mrs Winifred Awosika; the pro-chancellor and chairman of council, Emeritus Professor Bayo Adekanye; members of the council, members of  the board of trustees, principal officers, the management, staff and students for their immense contributions to the success of the exercise.

Professor Babalola said that private universities, particularly Chrisland University, which never witness any kind of industrial action, would continue to enjoy stable academic activities.

She also underscored the need for both public and private universities to further place premium on skills acquisition and entrepreneurship with a view to making graduates employers of labour tackle joblessness in the country.