UNIJOS VC reveals what is driving Nigerian students abroad

Vice-Chancellor for the University of Jos, Professor Ishaya Tanko, has revealed the major reason why students in Nigeria are leaving the country.

The new VC, who is the 10th substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University spoke at his inauguration and installation which was held at the institution’s Senate Chambers on Wednesday.

He said, “The reality of the Nigerian university system which has once worked and prospered has now declined and not fulfilled the cardinal issues of higher education of knowledge generation, transmission, dissemination and application embedded in their tripartite function of research, teaching and community engagement.

“In addition, the current insecurity in the country has created serious challenges in which academics, social and economic activities are almost totally arrested.

“As a result, there has been a considerable increase in the number of Nigerian students going abroad for higher studies. From 2011, the Nigerian students that have gone to Ghanaian University alone are equal to the student population of four Nigerian Universities, almost one hundred thousand.”

The new Vice-Chancellor noted that the university is conceived as a key driver of growth and development in society.

He noted that the University of Jos which was established in 1971 as a campus of the University of Ibadan and as a full-fledged University in 1976 has now grown to 15 faculties and a college with an undergraduate population of 45,287.