UNILORIN vs OAU: The best university ranking debate

Date: 2014-08-27

The Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State and the University of Ilorin, Kwara State have differed on which is the best university in Nigeria. While OAU is claiming to be the best, pointing to a ranking by Cybermetrics Lab-CSIC, based in Spain, UNILORIN is backing its position with a ranking carried out by the International Colleges and Universities Web Ranking.

According to OAU Public Relations Officer, Mr. Biodun Olarewaju, the university has been for fourth consecutive times ranked first in Nigeria.

Olarewaju said, “According to the latest ranking released in July, 2014 on its website: http//www.webometrics.info/en/ africa/nigeria, OAU has been adjudged to have continuously recorded excellence in its area of research, academic, university governance and extensive deployment of ICT for its operations.

“This is the first time that any Nigerian university would be so ranked and rated the first and the best for four times running, bringing to rest any contention from any quarter. However, a statement by the UNILORIN Deputy Director, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Kunle Akogu, said the university was adjudged best in Nigeria. According to him, the university is also 20th best university in Africa and 1,842nd in the world in the 2014 University Web Ranking.

He said the result of the ranking conducted by International Colleges and Universities was released on July 29, 2014. This is a needless exercise and rather than aspire to be a local champion, Nigerian universities should strive to be the best in the whole of Africa. They must be able to compete with any university globally. A situation where no Nigerian university is not in the top ten in Africa is unthinkable and totally unacceptable.

Although it is not a small feat to accomplish, it will indeed take some doings but it is quite doable for Nigerian universities to rank amongst the very best top 10 in the globe, it takes determination, focus and well-coordinated efforts to get to this enviable position. Education is too important to national development and nation-building to be treated with levity and kid-gloves.

The relationship between education and development is well established such that education is a key index of development. It has been documented that schooling improves productivity and health. It reduces negative features of life such as child labour as well as bringing about empowerment.

This is why there has been a lot of emphasis particularly in recent times for all citizens of the world to have access to basic education. Education as a social institution therefore could be seen as a great value concerned with imparting knowledge and skills, which help an individual to participate in society.

Therefore, education in general, and higher education in particular, are fundamental to the construction of a knowledge economy and society in all nations. However, the potential of higher education system in Nigeria to fulfill this responsibility is frequently thwarted by long-standing problems of funding, efficiency, equity, quality and governance. Now, these old challenges have been augmented by new challenges linked to the growing role of knowledge in economic development, rapid changes in telecommunications technology, and the globalization of trade and labour markets.

A professor once noted that Nigerian universities are under the siege of decay.

There are no facilities for effective practicals for the students especially in those universities with a technology bias. When universities face accreditation exercises for their courses, some departments have to borrow equipment from neigbouring and sister institutions.

Section B sub-section 59 of Nigerian National Policy on Education articulates the goals of tertiary education in the country, and states that these include; Contribute to national development through high level relevant manpower training; Develop and inculcate proper values for the survival of the individual and society; Develop the intellectual capacity of individuals to understand and appreciate their local and external environments; Acquire both physical and intellectual skills which will enable individuals to be self – reliant and useful members of the society; Promote and encourage scholarship and community service; Forge and cement national unity’, as well as promote national and international understanding. To get the Nigerian universities to be among the very best in the world, there must be an urgent national summit on university education in Nigeria.

The funding of Nigerian university must improve tremendously and such funds be judiciously applied, value orientation about university education and scholarship must change, and there must no short-cut to success amongst students. It is also important to note that research takes a lot of effort and demands a great deal of money. If an academic staff is to research and publish in reputable journals outside the country, he should have access to funds and adequate equipment .

This is the global standard procedure which has ensured scientific and technological advances. If Nigeria is going to catch up with and get into the main stream of development in the twenty -first century, her universities must be alive to their research responsibilities.

The products of science and technology, which Nigerians consume with unbridled avidity, take their root from world-class universities and research institutions. Nigeria has resources both human and material to accomplish this goal. What is lacking is committed, insightful and informed leadership to propel the nation’s potentials. Indeed, Nigerian universities can rank among the very best in the world.

Source

 


Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Olaiya Lawal     Computer Based Test     Abdulrazaq Solihudeen     Kayode Laro     Aliyu Salihu     Alore     Alaro     Eghe Igbinehin     Ilorin Likeminds Foundation     Igbaja     Isiaka Danmeromu     Kwara Primary Health Care Development Agency     Age AbdulKareem     Florence Saraki     Sabi     Oke-Odo     Emir Of Lafiagi     Admiralty Villa     Sardauna     Senior Staff Union Of Colleges Of Education     Abdulquawiy Olododo     Ibrahim Oniye     Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq     Ramadhan     Shaykh Luqman Jimoh     Centre For Digital Economy     Ilesha-Baruba     Shururat Olatinwo     Kolade Solagberu     Ayekale     National Association Of Nigerian Students     Abdulfatai Salman Baakini     Abdulraheem Olesin     Dumagi     Bibire Ajape     Saheed Akinwumi     Shehu Salau     MAI Akande     Michael Nzekwe     Saka Asiat Ayinke     Haliru Dantoro     SDP     Abdullahi Imam Abdullahi     Ishak Mohammed Sabi     Oasis Muslim Care Foundation     ER-KANG Mining Nigeria Company Limited     Yusuf Zulu-Gambari     Coalition Of Kwara North Groups     Zulkifli Ibraheem     HAMFAT Clinic And Maternity     Abubakar Baba Sulaiman     Folashade Omoniyi     Muideen Olaniyi Alalade     Aliyu Muhammad Saifudeen     Elekoyangan     Crystal Corner Shops     Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq     Igosun     Abubakar Bature Sulu-Gambari     Code Of Conduct     Olatomiwa Williams     Egbejila     Oba Mogaji Abdulkadir     Alfa Belgore     Abdulrasheed Na\'Allah     Nigerian Correctional Service     Radio Kwara     Kwara     Aisha Buhari     Owo Arugbo     Femi Agbaje     Umar Adelodun     Otuka     Special Adviser On Digital Innovation     Demola Banu     Omupo     Chief Imam Of Omu-Aran    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Ariyo     Asa     Kubra Kazum     Joseph Yemi Ajayi     Kwara South     Forgo Battery Company Limited     Amusa Bello     Idris Garba     Code Of Conduct Bureau     Demola Banu     Femi Ogunsola     Share-Tsaragi     Ayotunde Emmanuel Alao     Iyiola Oyedepo     Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu     Centre For Peace And Strategic Studies     Simeon Sayomi     Garba Dogo     Saadu Yusuf     Offa Metropolitan Club     Allocation     Edu     Presidential Election     Taiwo Joseph     Bamikole Omishore     Oniye     Isiaka Yusuf     Kwara Liberation Group     Yunus Lawal     Dan Iya     Tunde Akanbi     Jumoke F. Ajao     Government Girls’ Day Secondary School Pakata     Ahmed     NNPP     Abdulrahman Abdulrasak     Ridwan Agboola     Kazeem Adekanye     Dumagi     Abdulquawiy Olododo     CUTI     AbdulQowiy Olododo     Kwarareports     Offa Grammer School     Balikis Jawondo     Mohammed Kamaludeen     Magaji Nda     Abdulkadir Orire     Ilorin East/South Federal Constituency     Bola Shagaya     Sadiq Buhari     International Aviation College     Javed Khan     Muhammad Mustapha Suleiman     Elesie Of Esie     Federal Allocation     AbdulRauf Keji     Tescom.kwarastate.gov.ng     Pakata Development Association     Muhammed Danjuma     Taofeek Ibraheem     Muritala Olarewaju     Ilesha-Baruba     Kwara Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations     Elerinjare     Folashade Omoniyi     Jamiu Oyawoye     Offa Descendants Union     Elections     New Naira Notes     Nigeria Governors\' Forum     Saidu Kawu     Rashidi Yekini     Alfa Modibo Belgore     Lawal Arinola Kudirat     Esinrogunjo     Shaaba Lafiagi