Nigerian Universities Are Overcrowded- Don

A Professor of Nematology and pioneer Vice Chancellor of Augustine University, Epe, Stephen Afolami has expressed concern over the crowdy population of students in public universities in Nigeria 

The university don identified overcrowding of students as a major challenge of university education in Nigeria.

Afolami made the submission while delivering a commencement lecture at  the 2019/2020 Matriculation Ceremony of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) on Wednesday in Abeokuta.

He lamented that the facilities including hostels accomodations in the public universities were being over stretched because of the crowdy population of students

His words,"overcrowded conditions rub the subscribers of the benefits expected to be derived from  the facility".

The overcrowding of students according to him, is a consequence of the pressure put on universities to admit as many students as possible 

"The campus life, when properly set up with the cultural nuances that goes with academics, lends a hand in shaping and forming those who pass through it."

"It is also the result of the dire need to generate internal revenue. These impositions cause a dislocation on the system and prevent students from benefitting optimally from the education," he said.

Afolami  submitted that government should bear part of the cost of producing every graduate, insisting that education is not free, nevertheless it should not be left to the shoulders of the university authorities alone.

According to him,"Everywhere in the world, every university that trains a citizen takes something from government for the training of that student." 

"We must embrace that and ensure that something commensurate with the training of that student, which will vary from one faculty to the other, should be calculated and given to the university on behalf of the student," he said. 

Afolami congratulated the new 4,087 students who registered for the matriculation exercise out of the 4215 offered provisional admission

He  urged them to avoid the temptation of delaying the beginning of serious work till the second semester. 

According to him, it is always a "very regrettable mistake that freshers keep making year in, year out". 

He also advised them to shun various vices that could jeopardise their admission. 

 Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Felix Salako had earlier charged the freshers to shy away from any destructive action in the name of unionism but rather engage in dialogue. 

He added that they must strive not to compromise excellence at all times just as they should avail themselves of various programmes and events provided by the university.