The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arc. Sonny Echono, recently criticized the growing trend of corruption and undue influence in the appointment of Vice-Chancellors in Nigerian universities. According to him, the selection process, which is supposed to be based on merit, competence, and academic excellence, has been hijacked by money politics, with governing councils allegedly bowing to the highest bidders.
Echono made these remarks during an event, emphasizing that this development undermines the integrity of the country’s tertiary education system. He called for urgent reforms to restore credibility to the appointment process and ensure that Vice-Chancellors are chosen based on their qualifications and vision for academic excellence, rather than financial inducements.
This revelation highlights the challenges facing Nigeria’s education sector, including governance issues, lack of transparency, and the erosion of academic standards. It also raises questions about the broader implications for the quality of education and research in the country.
