Former UNILAG Vice-Chancellor Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe has raised alarm over the exodus of 239 first-class lecturers from the university due to poor funding, inadequate salaries, and harsh working conditions, warning that without urgent government intervention, Nigeria’s higher education system faces imminent collapse.
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Ex-UNILAG VC Decries Brain Drain Amid Poor Funding and Salaries
Lagos, Nigeria – Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, has expressed deep concern over the massive exit of academic talent from Nigerian universities, blaming inadequate funding and poor remuneration as the key drivers.
According to Ogundipe, 239 first-class graduates who were recruited as lecturers at UNILAG between 2015 and 2022 have left the institution within seven years, leaving only 17 of them still in service as of October 2023.
Shocking Statistics: First-Class Talents Leave in Droves
Speaking at The PUNCH Forum on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, themed “Innovative Funding of Functional Education in the Digital Age,” Ogundipe outlined a disturbing trend:
- 2015: 86 first-class graduates employed
- 2016: 82 employed
- 2017–2022: 88 employed
- As of October 2023: Only 17 remain
“These brilliant minds are leaving due to poor pay, lack of motivation, and an unconducive working environment,” he stated. “What’s left is barely 10%. At this rate, universities will be dominated by only women, and underprepared candidates will fill postgraduate programs.”
Funding Gap Widens
Professor Ogundipe criticized the federal and state governments for consistently allocating less than 10% of the national budget to education—far below UNESCO’s recommended 15–26%.
“By the time you get home, there’s no light. The government says we can access N10 million as loans—how does that help when you can’t build even a security post with it?” he lamented.
National Unrest: ASUU Shuts Down Campuses
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has continued nationwide protests over unresolved issues, including unpaid salaries and the 2009 agreement with the Federal Government.
- At the University of Uyo (UniUyo) in Akwa Ibom State, lectures and examinations were suspended.
- University of Abuja (UniAbuja) lecturers also joined the protests, demanding better conditions and funding.
ASUU has warned of a potential fresh strike unless the government meets its commitments, further threatening the stability of Nigeria’s already fragile education system.
A Call to Action
The former UNILAG VC’s warning is clear: without immediate and significant intervention from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, Nigeria risks a full-blown academic collapse. The steady loss of top-tier scholars will continue unless salaries, infrastructure, and research funding receive urgent attention.
READ ALSO: Wahala: UNILAG Student Spends Money Meant for Artist She Invited to Exhibition
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