Nigerian universities have produced over 720 Vice Chancellors since 1960 – Prof Ochefu

The Secretary-General of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU), Professor Yakubu Ochefu says over 720 individuals have held the position of vice chancellor in the Nigeria University System (NUS) since 1960.

He said out of the 720 individuals that have held the position, 38 of them were women.

Speaking in Abuja at an event to unveil the 60th-anniversary of the committee, Prof Ochefu explained that many are still serving in various universities across the country, while a number of them are deceased.

He said the Committee held its first meeting in 1962 which was composed of Vice-Chancellors of Federal, State, and Private Universities in Nigeria, adding that they are set to celebrate 60+ years of existence and working very quietly to improve the university system.

Prof Ochefu noted that ”major policies in the education system today, are from the meetings and inputs of the CVC such as harmonization of the nations academic calendar, the NYSC, JAMB, Welfare of staff of the universities, predatory journals to promote good journal practices in the university system and the minimum academic benchmark and core curriculum of universities.”

He observed that the university system went through many challenges ranging from funding and access but was able to overcome them, saying that celebrating 60 years was a milestone achievement.

The University don blamed poor research funding on why Nigerians, especially, those from the intellectual community do not win the Nobel Laureate prizes, noting that to feature in the Nobel prize nomination, there must be breakthroughs in cutting-edge research.