Chris Maiyaki, the former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), has identified several challenges hindering the Commission’s ability to fully fulfill its mandate of advancing university education in Nigeria.
During the formal handover ceremony in Abuja to his successor, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, Maiyaki pointed out key issues such as inadequate funding, outdated regulatory laws, limited integration of information and communication technology (ICT), and weak governance as significant hurdles.
He expressed concerns over how these factors undermine the NUC’s capacity to effectively oversee and regulate Nigeria’s universities.
In response, Prof. Ribadu acknowledged the pressing need for the NUC to reflect on its role and relevance in the changing landscape of higher education. “We must introspect and evaluate our internal processes and structures to ensure that they align with the evolving needs of the education sector,” Ribadu stated. He emphasized the importance of adaptability in the Commission’s approach, underscoring that it would be essential for improving service delivery and maintaining effectiveness in its regulatory role.
“We will revisit the laws that govern our Commission and its interactions with other stakeholders to identify areas of improvement to strengthen and reposition it for better service delivery,” he assured.
