The U.S. Embassy in
Nigeria in an effort to increase the number of Nigerian students studying in
America will convene its 16th annual ‘Education USA College Fair’ between Oct.
7 and 8 in Abuja. This
is contained in a statement by the Public Affairs Section of U.S. Embassy on
Monday in Abuja.
The
statement said that Nigerian students’ enrollment in the U.S. higher education
institutions had increased more than 25 per cent in the past five years.
PREMIUM TIMES report continues:
“Approximately
8,000 Nigerian students are currently studying in U.S. higher education
institutions and 18th in the world for international U.S. higher education
enrollment,” it stated.
The
statement said that the Fair with the theme “Education USA: Exploring the
Opportunities” would provide students with the prospect of exploring the
diversity and vitality of higher education in the U.S.
It
stated that U.S. college admission officers, alumni of various U.S. universities,
and the U.S. Embassy’s education advisors would be available to interact with
attendees.
According
to the statement, they will also offer reliable information on U.S. higher
educational institutions and guidance on the application process, standardized
testing, and scholarship opportunities.
“The
U.S. Mission’s Education Advising Centre promotes U.S. education by providing
students and parents in Nigeria with accurate, comprehensive, and current
information on U.S. universities and colleges,” it added.
(NAN) |
|
The
vice-chancellors emphasized need for an improvement in education funding.
|
Nigeria Loses US$500m Annually To European,
American Universities – VCs
PREMIUM TIMES REPORT December 2, 2012
The
Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVC), said on Saturday
that Nigerians spend an average of US$500 million (₦75
billion) annually on schooling in European and American universities.
This
is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a two-day Consultative Policy
Dialogue on the Future and Relevance of the Nigerian Universities and other
Tertiary Institutions, organized by CVC and Trust Africa, Dakar.
The
communiqué, signed by Michael Faborode, former Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi
Awolowo University, noted that the amount was about 70 per cent of the total
allocation in 2008 to all federal universities.
It
said that this was an indication of the loss of faith in Nigerian universities
as shown by the rush for foreign institutions, even to other African countries.
It
said that constant restiveness of students between host communities, school
administration, weak governance structure and processes, were some of the
challenges facing the Nigerian Higher Education Sector.
According
to the communiqué, these have contributed to disruptions of the academic
calendar, including the constant bickering between the academic staff union,
other staff unions, university management and government.
The
VCs said that this had thereby affected the culture of robust debate and
collaborative engagement between government, university management and staff
for a common vision and progress.
It
noted that the global ranking of Nigerian universities had nose-dived considerably,
adding that there had been growing concern over the quality of graduates from
Nigerian universities.
The
committee resolved to restore a culture of consultation, strategic productive
engagement, and partnership, collaboration between management and staff of
Nigerian higher education institutions.
It
also resolved that the nature and dimension of the problems confronting higher
education institutions in Nigeria would require a new approach to governance.
The
communiqué also resolved that the appointment of vice chancellors must include
respect for academic excellence, managerial, leadership capabilities,
transparency and accountability.
It
said that others were the non-negative application of the principle of federal
character to stem the tide of emerging sectional agitations and clamour for
indigenes and other parochial interests.
The
committee also resolved that as much as possible, “indigene-ship’’ should not
be critical in the appointment of vice chancellors.
It
resolved that government must invest in the future of the country by providing
adequate resources to enable universities achieve their goals.
The
VCs said that stakeholders and private sectors should be committed to investing
in higher education through sponsoring of research.
The
communiqué called for the setting up of an education, research innovation and
development council to coordinate the synergy between knowledge, innovation and
development in all the sectors of the economy.
It
also resolved that government needed to be more cautious in the current trend
of establishing and approving of new universities without commensurate increase
in the number of teachers.
The
VCs believed that the higher education sector had a critical role to play in
forging a sense of nationhood, and nation building as well as citizenship.
It
also recommended that regular consultative policy dialogue on Nigerian
Universities and other tertiary institutions should be held biannually.
(NAN)
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