Proliferation Of Tertiary Institution Amid Funding Gap

In recent years, Nigeria has witnessed a surge in the creation of federal, state, and private tertiary institutions universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education driven largely by the growing demand for higher education. While the expansion appears to be a positive step toward widening access, it often occurs without adequate planning or investment in essential infrastructure, staffing, and sustainable funding.

The result is a growing number of under-resourced institutions plagued by overcrowded classrooms, poorly equipped laboratories, limited lecture halls, and failing student support systems. This raises a critical concern: in our drive to offer more Nigerians access to tertiary education, are we sacrificing quality for quantity?

These issues are compounded by the strain on human resources, with many institutions lacking enough qualified lecturers and administrative personnel to support the growing student population. Dilapidated facilities, outdated teaching tools, and low staff morale due to poor working conditions are common, directly impacting academic productivity and the quality of graduates produced.