Over 75,000 Nigerian students are in three Ghanaian universities, the Chairman, Committee of Pro-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Dr. Wale Babalakin, has said, adding that cumulatively, a whopping N160 billion is spent annually for their stay at the institutions.

Babalakin, who is also the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), said "last year, the federal government's total budget for universities was less than N160billion."

He made this known at the weekend in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital at an award night organised by the University of Ilorin Alumni Association to honour Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed and members of the association.

The members honoured are: outgoing Vice-Chancellor of UNILORIN, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede; Vice-Chancellor of Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, Prof. Abdulrasheed Na'Allah; and Managing Director of UTC Nigeria Ltd, Mrs. Folusho Olaniyan.

Babalakin, who was the chairman at the occasion, noted that university education is at a crossroad in the country. "In 1973, four Nigerian universities were rated among the best 20 in Africa. Today, none of them is among the best 30, while none is among the best 1,000 in the world.

"University education is a collective effort that can only grow properly with government and active support of the populace. Everybody should contribute to ensure this in Nigeria. Since 2009, when the power to appoint VCs was delegated to the university, the exercise has been relatively peaceful and without rancour.

"This is the first step towards university autonomy. There are still so many areas that we are not autonomous. It is when we become totally autonomous that all the universities will have the necessary energy to develop at their own pace.

The university should be allowed to generate money internally for development purposes. If we generate substantial money within the university, you will be alarmed at the catalytic effect it would have on development."

Earlier, National President of the association, Mr. Taoreed Odedele, said: "UNILORIN has in the last five years witnessed tremendous and rapid transformation. The staff and students of the institution keep showering encomiums on the administration of the current VC for infrastructural development witnessed."