By Dele Sobowale

“The more things change [especially in Nigeria] the more they remain the same.” Anonymous.

Just when I was developing a mental block about what next to write about, an advertisement in VANGUARD on Monday, February 16, 2015, caught my attention. It announced the opening of Asaba State University, at its temporary site along the Benin-Asaba expressway. Prospective students were asked to apply for admission to study courses on offer. Classes will start in March, that’s right, next month. Before going into my misgivings about the starting date, let me quickly bring to the attention of our readers that, at least two other universities are racing to fling open their gates for admission of students.

The two others are DOMINION UNIVERSITY situated on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway – but closer to Ibadan. The other is the PAN ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY  situated along the Lagos-Epe expressway – but closer to Epe. Before you start wondering how I got to know about these universities, let me confess that Gay Talese, the author of THE KINGDOM AND THE POWER, a book written about the NEW YORK TIMES must have had people like me in mind when he described journalists as “restless voyeurs” and journalism as “the opiate of the restless”. I travel a lot and would go anywhere for information. I would love to visit the universities in the war zones of Nigeria — if there is a sponsor.

Lately universities have become my passion. So, I am on the look-out for them at all times. I pass by DOMINION and PAN ATLANTIC more often than ASABA STATE. But oddly enough, I found myself in front of the university just three weeks ago, on another restless trip to the East covering nine states. I was amazed by the rapid pace of physical development from the last time my trips took me in that direction. Granted, there was insufficient time to enter and see the entire premises; still, the little seen was impressive. Based on the physical infrastructure alone, the university is already one of the best in Nigeria and would be highly recommended to prospective students and their guardians or sponsors.

Unfortunately, there the endorsements end. The university is offering education to Nigeria youths from everywhere. The vital interests of those kids, defined by acquisition of sound university education, which will enable them to compete globally is paramount. There is certainly more to a university than mere fine buildings and good landscaping. Three of those variables which need to be addressed before the kids are drawn into uncertainties will now be discussed.

Starting a university in March is very odd indeed, because it runs contrary to the global cycle. My fear is that the university was rushed to completion, at least physically, because the present state administration does not want its successor to claim credit for it. While that might be acceptable in politics, it might end up creating several insurmountable problems if the university starts without absolute preparedness to provide the standard of education required of a university in modern times. Other universities which had been opened before it have ended up “graduating” students who cannot be admitted for the National Youth Service nor gain employment with reputable organizations. For instance, the  40 million unemployed people in Nigeria today include medical doctors graduated from unaccredited medical schools. Two reasons account for this.

The first is staff strength and composition. The National University Commission, NUC, had mandated that lecturers in Nigerian universities must possess a minimum of Doctorate degree in a discipline. Most universities, if not all, flout this requirement for two reasons.

One, even if all the Ph. D holders in Nigeria are compulsorily drafted into teaching at universities, there would still be huge gaps to fill. Unfortunately, not all such individuals want to lecture at universities – even as part-time lecturers. Two, given our national penchant fir impunity, the universities regard themselves as untouchables. The NUC, which is supposed to regulate the activities of universities, is one of the worst toothless dogs in the country today. So, this new university will not start off with a lot of “qualified” lecturers. And the NUC will allow it to operate, and the students will pay dearly later for the mess.

Second, not only staff requirements but other facilities to teach certain courses, especially in the physical and environmental sciences might not be available yet. So, there will be no accreditation. Unless accreditation for courses is obtained before the first set is ready to graduate, the victims will merely join the growing list of unemployable graduates. In fact, what the university, like others before it, would have accomplished would have been called 419 if an individual or small powerless group was involved.