Public University Education in North-West Geo-Political Zone of Nigeria: Problems and Way Forward

Abstract

North-West geo-political zone of Nigeria is one of the largest geo-political zones with seven states. The geopolitical zone is host to many educational institutions which include public universities. The public universities in the zone are faced with some challenges which are hindering their development. This paper discussed the challenges the public universities in North-West are facing. Secondary data were used to provide empirical support to the various points raised. The paper concluded that inadequate funding, shortages of academic staffs, insecurity problems, poor motivation, poor research programmes, inadequate infrastructural facilities, corruption, brain-drain and strike actions are part of the challenges facing public universities in the North-west geo-political zone of Nigeria. The paper recommended that the federal and state government should increase the funding of the universities in the region, more academic staffs should be employed and more infrastructural facilities should be put in place. Academic staffs should be motivated and the agreements that both states and federal governments reached with union groups within the universities should be implemented. Adequate security and corruption problems should be tackled by addressing all factors responsible for insecurity and the deployment of anti-corruption agencies to monitor funds released to the various universities and the activities of universities in the region.