The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to take decisive action to restore the lost glory of Nigeria’s first-generation universities, including Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; the University of Ibadan; and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
This resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Aderemi Oseni (APC, Oyo) during Wednesday’s plenary session. The motion, titled “Need to Upgrade First-Generation Universities and Investigate the Quality and Standards of TETFUND Projects Across Federal Universities in Nigeria,” received overwhelming support from lawmakers.
Oseni, while presenting the motion, lamented the steady decline of Nigeria’s pioneer universities, which were once global centres of academic excellence in the early 1960s. He recalled that the institutions once boasted world-class facilities, highly qualified lecturers, and international recognition, but have since suffered from years of neglect and poor funding.
The lawmaker noted that lecture halls, hostels, and auditoriums across these universities are now in deplorable condition, while once-thriving facilities such as university zoos—formerly popular tourist attractions—have either been abandoned or no longer exist.
He further expressed concern over the quality of recent Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) projects, alleging that many new buildings are already showing signs of deterioration, unlike structures erected more than 60 years ago.
In response, the House resolved to launch a comprehensive investigation into the quality and standard of TETFund projects implemented across federal universities. The goal, lawmakers said, is to ensure accountability and value for public funds.
They also urged the Federal Ministries of Education and Finance, the National Universities Commission (NUC), TETFund, and development partners to work together on a strategy to rehabilitate and upgrade the first-generation universities.
Furthermore, the House directed its Committees on University Education, TETFund, and other relevant bodies to inspect completed and ongoing projects in tertiary institutions nationwide, verify compliance with standards, and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
Nigeria’s first-generation universities—Ahmadu Bello University, University of Ibadan, University of Nigeria Nsukka, among others—were established in the early 1960s and once set the benchmark for academic quality in Africa. However, decades of inadequate funding and infrastructural decay have eroded their prestige and weakened their global competitiveness.
