Over 200,000 Nigerian students studying in Ghanaian universities are
reported to expend over N100 billion annually as tuition outside sundry
fees.
Former lawmaker and educationists, Senator David Iornem, who
disclosed this yesterday at a briefing to mark his 64th birthday
anniversary in Makurdi, said the figure represented a major capital
flight from the country.
According to him, “available figures show
that the over 200,000 Nigerians currently studying in Ghana, expend
over N100 billion annually on tuition and sundry fees. This situation
arose because official figures show that out of N1.7million Nigerians
seeking admission into institutions of higher learning, only 500,000
find placements leaving many with no other option but to seek admission
in Ghana.
The federal government should take immediate steps to
unbundling the higher education sector in Nigeria by adopting the United
Kingdom, American, Malaysian and German models which allows for the
establishment of small university colleges by willing entrepreneurs.
“In
these countries, small university colleges which may be affiliated to
bigger universities are set up by small scale entrepreneurs with
adequate resources. I believe that when we kick start this process, more
than 500,000 university places will be created in the first year.
“This
can be achieved by involving small entrepreneurs and allowing existing
universities to set up satellite campuses. By the third year of starting
this system, no Nigerian youth wanting to enter a university,
polytechnic or a college of education will have any difficulty or denied
the opportunity to development him or herself.
Prof. Iornem
added, “it is totally unacceptable to officially shut the door against
young Nigerians wanting admission, thereby, leaving them stranded and
hopeless; we must return the higher education sector to its days of
glory when brilliant young people were sure of their future.”
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