House Of Reps Seeks Upgrade Of UI, UNN, ABU

The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Ministries of Education, and that of Finance, including the National Universities Commission (NUC), Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and Development Partners, to work out modalities to refurbish the first-generation federal universities in order to restore the glory and quality of the institutions.

The targeted universities include the University of Ibadan (UI) in Oyo State, University of Nigeria, Nsuka (UNN) in Enugu State, and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria, Kaduna State.

The House equally resolved to investigate the quality and standards of TETFund projects across federal universities in the country.

The resolutions were sequel to the adoption of a motion moved by the member representing Ibarapa East/Ido federal constituency of Oyo State, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, at plenary on Wednesday.

Moving the motion, Oseni noted that the first-generation federal universities in Nigeria established in the early 1960s exuded glory, glamour, quality and class from inception, and were also the pride of the nation in those days.

He said the standard and quality of the first-generation universities, in terms of quality of teachers, students and infrastructure, attracted them to foreign students and international recognitions across the world.

Oseni expressed worry that the first-generation universities which include UI, UNN and ABU, amongst others, seemed to have lost the glory they exuded in the 1960s due to years of neglect and unintended abandonment of infrastructure and facilities in the universities.

He lamented that the years of neglect, resulted in decay and dilapidated infrastructure of the institutions’ lecture halls, hostels, auditoriums, saying the beautiful zoos in the universities that attracted tourists from far and near were now either empty or non-existent.

The lawmaker noted that the TETFund initiated to ameliorate the infrastructure gap in the universities has executed a number of projects in selected institutions.

He expressed concern that TETFund projects were of poor quality, with newly completed works deteriorating faster than projects built over 60 years ago.

Oseni emphasised the need for the federal government to refurbish the first-generation universities in Nigeria to return to their former glory.