Saturday, July 5, 2025
23.2 C
Lagos

‘Why Nigerian, African Varsities Rank Lowly Globally’ – Ghana VC

Leading African Development Economist and Vice Chancellor of University of Ghana, Legon, Professor Ernest Aryeetey says that Nigeria and Africa in general will not have globally competitive economies without investing in university research.
He also noted that low investment in research-focused universities accounts for why many African universities are lowly ranked and cannot be globally competitive.
According to the seasoned economist, Africa must develop research universities that will help in providing sound knowledge economy for its transformation and positive change.
Aryeetey made the reamarks while delivering the 67th Interdisciplinary Discourse of the Postgraduate School, University of Ibadan under the Deanship of Professor Adeyinka Aderinto.
Speaking on the topic “Developing Research Universities for Africa: Some New Approaches”, Professor Aryeetey noted that universities must specialise either in teaching or doing researches, noting that not all universities should be combining both teaching and researching.
He said African Universities must collaborate, which he said will lead to develop output that will solve Africa’s problems, adding that the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) has this as one of its visions.
According to him, there is a correlation between research output and economic growth, adding that if Nigeria and African governments refused to fund research for the transformation of Africa, it will be difficult for the continent to experience transformation.
“Having research focused universities is important but expensive but the end product is total transformation and economic growth. Innovation comes from research which leads to transformation. We need to pay more attention to research in Africa. Our governments complain of low ranking universities and want us to compete globally but can they do what Harvard, Yale and Princeton universities are investing in Research? They must invest in Research to have their economies change and the continent can be competitive with the rest of the world. We need to change the face of infrastructure in our universities and attract leading scholars through attractive incentives and train more faculties that can conduct transformational research. African problems are of different nature. Our problem is about low productivity in agriculture, health but we must conduct researches that will solve our own problems. We must formulate policies based on researches conducted by African researchers not on important policy from another clime which is at variance with realities on the continent. It is sad that Africa accounts for 1% of world research outputs.”
He noted that the low level investment in research and development in African countries was due to the fact that government and companies do not want to spend money on research, adding that researchers must learn to conduct researches that have direct bearing on African needs.
The Vice chancellor, University of Ibadan, Professor Idowu Olayinka who stated that education is the bedrock of development, however lamented that the popular recognition of the role of universities in national development still operate theoretically in Nigeria and in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Olayinka stated that African governments have failed to meet the needs of her universities which can help the continent o build competitive economies by developing skilled, productive and flexible workforce and by creating, applying and spreading innovations and technologies.
He urged the federal government to invest in research and stop blaming educational institutions of ranking lowly in the global educational system.

spot_img
spot_img
spot_img

Hot this week

MTN, 9mobile Ink National Infrastructure Partnership Deal

L-R: Abolaji Idowu, Chief Financial Officer, 9mobile; Omotola Ojutayo,...

Stanbic IBTC Holding’s N148bn Rights Issue Oversubscribed by 21.9%, Injects N140bn into Stanbic IBTC Bank

Acting Group CE Statement Commenting on the just concluded rights...

NAICOM Hands over New Licences to SanlamAllianz Life, General Insurance

The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) today handed over new...

Access Bank Highlights Leadership at Climate Governance Initiative Launch

Access Bank Plc has once again demonstrated its leadership...

Fidelity Bank Extends Relief Efforts to Eti-Osa Community with Food Bank Initiative

Henry Asiegbu, Divisional Head, Operations, Fidelity Bank Plc (Left);...

Topics

Almond Insurance Consumers Forum Set for Oct. 26

Almond Productions Limited, promoters of the Annual Insurance Consumers...

African Leaders Seek Strategic Partners to Empower Citizens

The only thing that worries Africa’s political and economic...

Samsung Smartphone Shipments Return to Growth in Q3 2015

According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, global smartphone shipments grew 10 percent annually to reach 354 million units in the third quarter of 2015. Samsung grew its smartphone shipments six percent and finally returned to positive growth for the first time in over a year. Linda Sui, Director at Strategy Analytics, said:

Stanbic IBTC Bank Completes 1st Inbound Commercial Transaction on PAPSS

  Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, a subsidiary of Stanbic IBTC...

Former GMDs Applaud NNPC at CEO Forum in Abuja

We, the former Group Managing Directors (GMDs) of NNPC,...

China’s Forex Reserves Fall to $3.20tr in July

China's foreign exchange reserves fell to $3.20 trillion in...

Experts to Lead ITU Telecom World Forum

Speakers from governments and industry from around the world...

Air Cote d’Ivoire to Commence Abuja Flights from February 1

Air Côte d’Ivoire just announced that direct flights from...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img