The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has raised concerns over the increasing number of first-class graduates produced annually by private universities in Nigeria, describing the trend as worrisome.
ASUU National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, raised these concerns on Thursday during an event organized in honour of Prof. Andy Egwunyenga’s successful tenure as Vice Chancellor of Delta State University (DELSU).
Prof. Osodeke criticized the growing trend of private universities awarding numerous first-class degrees, stating that this practice could undermine academic integrity if adopted by public universities without proper regulation.
He also highlighted the decline in quality education at the foundational level, citing primary and secondary schools that produce students with excellent grades but insufficient knowledge.
ASUU’s concerns about the increasing number of first-class graduates in Nigeria have drawn attention to recent convocation ceremonies, where several private universities announced a significant number of students earning top honours.
While these are not the only universities involved, the figures released by institutions like Salem University, Ajayi Crowther University, and Benson Idahosa University highlight the growing trend.
Salem University, Lokoja, is set to graduate 499 students during its 6th convocation, with 41 earning first-class honours across its seven colleges.
Similarly, Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, will confer degrees on 2,679 students at its 16th convocation ceremony, with 86 receiving first-class honours.
Benson Idahosa University, Benin, will celebrate its 20th convocation, where 77 of its 1,029 graduates will receive first-class degrees, marking the highest number of graduates in the university’s history.
These developments, while celebratory, add weight to ASUU’s calls for stricter academic standards and regulatory measures to ensure that the integrity of Nigerian university degrees is maintained.
