The House of Representatives has called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to urgently rehabilitate and upgrade Nigeria’s first-generation universities — Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; the University of Ibadan; and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The lawmakers said decades of neglect, poor funding, and infrastructural decay have eroded the institutions’ global reputation and academic excellence.
The motion, sponsored by Hon. Aderemi Oseni (APC, Oyo), emphasized that these universities were once centers of intellectual excellence and innovation in Africa. However, Oseni lamented that most facilities, including lecture halls, laboratories, and hostels, have deteriorated, while many TETFUND projects already show signs of decay despite being recently completed.
Following the debate, the House resolved to investigate the quality of TETFUND-funded projects and urged the Ministries of Education and Finance, alongside the National Universities Commission, to collaborate in revitalizing first-generation universities. Committees were also mandated to report back within four weeks on steps taken to ensure accountability and restore the institutions’ lost glory.
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