Professor Attahiru Jega, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, has expressed concern over the quality of graduates produced by Nigerian universities, alleging that some institutions are awarding degrees to individuals who are deficient in both literacy and character.
Jega made the statement on Friday in Abuja while delivering the 14th Convocation Lecture of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), where he served as Chairman of the occasion.
He lamented the decline in academic and moral standards in Nigerian universities, stressing that the traditional principle of being “found worthy in learning and character” is fast losing relevance.
“Every time we mention ‘found worthy in learning and character,’ people tend to wonder whether learning and character necessarily go together. Well, they do not,” Jega said.
He noted that while one could be intellectually sound and lack good character, it is also possible to receive a degree without genuine learning.
“The expectation is that university graduates embody both learning and character. This ideal has been approximated in Nigerian universities in the past but has now become a mere aspiration,” he added.
Jega warned that the increasing trend of awarding degrees to individuals who fall short of basic literacy and ethical behavior standards poses a serious threat to the credibility of the nation’s higher education system.
He called for urgent reforms to restore the integrity and value of university education in Nigeria, stating that stakeholders must take collective responsibility to address the crisis.
The convocation lecture was attended by students, academics, and dignitaries, including the guest lecturer, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, who was praised by Jega for his contributions to national and continental development.
Jega’s remarks come amid ongoing debates on educational standards and the need to uphold academic excellence and discipline in the country’s tertiary institutions.
