Fagbohun Blames Government’s Dwindling Funding Of Institutions For Universities Dependence On Internally Generated Revenue

(From 2nd Left) VC, LASU, VC, UNILAG, Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, Chairman GC, LASU, Professor Adebayo Ninalowo with the DVG’s of UNILAG

By LOVETH AZODO, Lagos

The Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, Professor Olanrewaju A. Fagbohun, has blamed the dwindling funding of universities by government for the resort to Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) by institution’s for funding of their critical projects and programmes.

Fagbohun advanced reasons for dependence on IGR by universities while speaking at the sixth Prof. Adetokunbo Babatunde Shofoluwe Memorial Lecture on Monday at the University of Lagos, Yaba, Lagos.

He spoke on the theme “Commodification of Education: What Imperatives for Transforming University Education in Nigeria” as the guest speaker.

He said that going by what operates in other climes, the bulk of IGR ordinarily should come from commercial ventures, research and consultancy services, manufacturing and processing, and alumni goodwill and endowments.

Sadly, he noted that the incessant disruption of academic calendars and the low trust in the nation’s educational system has not given sufficient room for the kind of robust engagement that will develop most of these sources.

Furthermore, Prof. Fagbohun observed that IGR in Nigerian universities is generated more from teaching in form of different kinds of part-time and bridge programmes than from consultancies, research and development (R&D) which ironically, in a way, are founded on commodification philosophy.

According to him, “The result is often that the population of universities is over-bloated with part time students; facilities and infrastructure are overstretched, and sometimes there is lowering of entry qualifications in order to make courses competitive and admission attractive; lowering of standards in teaching in order to allow majority to pass; and extended working hours and working time for academic staff.”

Comparing Nigeria’s school system with other systems, he said that most countries provide various forms of financial support for students such as needs-based, merit-based grants or scholarships; transport, housing, medical subsidies; students loans (to be repaid after graduation when the graduate and starts generating income) to take care of miscellaneous living costs.

He said: “All of these are in addition to student-friendly tax system and proactive work study programs that enable students to be employed within the tertiary education system as research and administrative assistants while undergoing their studies.

“To be fair, a number of these countries have continued to suggest that higher tuition fees are inevitable. Nonetheless, they recognize the benefits of long-term investment in higher education and have continued to heavily finance it while encouraging a generous corporate culture of student employment through internships and externships as well as through student-friendly scholarships and research endowments”.

Speaking on the challenges and prospect of commodification of Education, Fagbohun pointed out that it is of concern that some of the private institutions that are struggling to attract students by lowering the entry point cut-off and possessing the least number of Professors and other teaching staff end up having the highest percentage of first class graduates.

He cited that “In one of the private universities, 30 students out of a total of 250 graduating students had a first-class honours degree. While it may be the case that the low number of students enabled much higher student/teacher interaction and enhanced the performance of the students, it could also be that traditional institutional culture and standard pedagogical practices of assessment are being compromised for impression and performance.

“No matter how inchoate or ephemeral students’ desires are, studies have shown that a consumer-centred education is likely to pander to such desires in a manner equating to value-for-money phenomenon” he said.

Reiterating the biography of Prof. Babatunde Shofoluwe, he was a Professor of Computer Science graduated with a Second Class Upper Division (Honours) in Special Mathematics in June 1973 from the University of Lagos. He was a pioneer National Youth Corps Member in the old South Eastern State of Nigeria.

During his undergraduate years, he received the prestigious German Scholarship award for Academic Brilliance. He also won the Dean’s Prize in the 1971/72 Session.
He won a Commonwealth Scholarship to Study at Edinburgh University, Scotland. He earned his Masters Degree in 1975 and Doctorate in 1981 from Edinburgh University.

The astute Scholar-Researcher started his teaching career as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Lagos in 1976 and rose steadily through the ranks to become a full Professor in October 1996. Professor Adetokunbo Babatunde Sofoluwe (1950 – 2012).

In conclusion Fagbohun commended the University of Lagos and the University of Lagos Alumni Association, Lagos Branch for their commitment to this annual Lecture. He also congratulated the family of Professor Adetokunbo Sofoluwe and also mentioned that he is a fine gentleman worthy of being celebrated

“His intellectual leadership and the great life he lived is the legacy that will continue to endure. I consider it a privilege to attest to that legacy in this enviable platform and I salute everyone who thought me worthy of that privilege” he said.