The Traffic

239 First-Class Lecturers Exit UNILAG: A Symptom of Systemic Decay

The disclosure by Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, that 239 first-class graduates employed as lecturers left UNILAG within seven years is a grim indicator of the collapsing foundations of Nigerian academia. Out of 256 recruited between 2015 and 2022, only 17 remain.

This statistic is not just about attrition; it is a symbol of brain drain, disillusionment, and systemic failure.

Why They Are Leaving

Poor Remuneration & Devaluation of Labour
Nigerian university lecturers earn far below their counterparts in Africa. For example, academics in Ghana, South Africa, and Botswana receive 3–5 times more in real terms. Inflation, devaluation of the naira, and inconsistent salary structures worsen the situation.

Unconducive Working Conditions
Frequent strikes, outdated infrastructure, inadequate research funding, epileptic electricity, and lack of modern laboratories stifle intellectual growth.

Low Motivation & Career Stagnation
Promotions are slow, bureaucracy is stifling, and there are few incentives to innovate or conduct research. Talented graduates see private sector jobs or opportunities abroad as far more rewarding.

The Implications

Future Faculty Shortage: If only 10% of first-class recruits remain, the pipeline for future professors and researchers is drying up.

Decline in Quality of Postgraduate Students: As Ogundipe noted, postgraduate admissions may be filled by weaker candidates, eroding the quality of higher education.

Gender Dynamics: The trend of more women staying in academia, while many men exit, could reshape university staff composition—though not inherently negative, it reflects systemic pressures.

National Development Impact: Universities are talent factories. Losing the best graduates means Nigeria’s innovation, research, and knowledge economy will lag further.

Funding and Policy Gaps

Ogundipe highlighted that Nigeria spends below 10% of its budget on education, compared to UNESCO’s recommended 15–26%. Between 2015 and 2025, allocations fluctuated between 4.5–7.5%, leaving universities underfunded and overburdened.

This underinvestment is directly linked to:

Poor facilities

Overcrowded classrooms

Low staff morale

Lack of research grants

Overreliance on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR)

Possible Solutions

Legislated Minimum Funding
As Ogundipe suggested, a law mandating at least ₦1bn annually for first-generation universities could provide stability.

Innovative Financing Models

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) for hostels, labs, and digital infrastructure.

Education bonds to finance research and capital projects.

Diaspora endowments and alumni funds.

Outcome-based financing where investors are repaid only if learning targets are met.

Revaluing Lecturers’ Welfare

Salary harmonisation with continental standards.

Housing, research grants, and sabbatical opportunities.

Merit-based incentives for publications, patents, and innovations.

Structural Reforms

Reduce bureaucracy in universities.

Digitise processes and encourage EdTech adoption.

Strengthen accountability in how funds are managed.

Final Thought

The 239 lecturers who left UNILAG are not just numbers—they represent lost potential, wasted investment, and a failing promise to Nigerian youth. If Nigeria fails to reverse this trend, its universities risk becoming glorified secondary schools, churning out certificates rather than knowledge, skills, and innovation.

Education is not just a social service—it is national security, economic growth, and the future itself. Without urgent reforms, Nigeria’s higher education may collapse under the weight of neglect.

By Haruna Yakubu Haruna