Date: 2016-12-02

Former Vice-Chancellor of Uthman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, Prof. Riskuwa Shehu, says private universities in Nigeria lack qualified academic and non-academic staff to offer quality education.

Shehu, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Ilorin said that most senior teaching staff in private universities were either employed on sabbatical, visiting or on adjunct basis.

He said such situation existed because the institutions had difficulty in attracting quality staff. The professor of Biochemistry, however, said private universities had more stable academic system because of governance structure.

According to him, they have more stable system compared to the public sector institutions. He added that they were smaller in size in terms of demand for upkeep and maintenance of standard.

"The proprietors of such institutions have a way of reducing pressure from the workers of the institutions. "Honestly speaking, you find out that the private institutions in this country are mostly driven by the workforce in the public sector," he said. Prof. Jude Udenta of Enugu State University of Science and Technology, said private universities had bridged the admission gap for prospective and provided spaces but could not vouch for the quality of graduates.

"They have done well in absorbing myriad of admission seekers. "However, I cannot clearly attest to their quality notwithstanding the number of first class students they produce since most of their students are those who get lower grades in JAMB exams," he said.