Growth and development of Nigerian universities

WHEN NIGERIA ATTAINED INTERNAL SELF-GOVERNMENT IN 1952, EDUCATION WAS CONCEIVED AS AN INDISPENSIBLE TOOL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN AND NATURAL RESOURCES. TOP PRIORITY WAS GIVEN TO THE EXPANSION OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY PROGRAMS, AND ENTHUSIASM WAS GENERATED FOR MORE HIGHER EDUCATION FACILITIES. THERE ARE PRESENTLY SIX UNIVERSITIES IN NIGERIA; IBADAN, NSUKKA, AHMADU BELLO, LAGOS, IFE, AND BENIN. THERE ARE MANY PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES IN DEVELOPING THE FUTURE DIRECTION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION. NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES, LIKE THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN OTHER DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, NEED TO IDENTIFY MORE CLOSELY WITH THEIR ENVIRONMENT. A GREATER AWARENESS OF THE NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE PEOPLE WILL EFFECT A MORE FLEXIBLE CURRICULUM, RELEVANT RESEARCH, WIDER USE OF FACILITIES, AND A BREAKING DOWN OF THE BARRIERS BETWEEN SOCIETY AND THE UNIVERSITIES.