John AdoyiIn recent years, Nigeria’s public universities have excelled in certain areas of school management, particularly in fee payment systems and streamlining online student registrations. However, despite these advancements, they seem woefully unequipped to manage critical academic processes like curriculum preparation, examinations and accurate recording of results.
These inefficiencies greatly impact student success and preparedness for the real world. After all, what students learn—and how effectively it’s assessed—shapes the professionals they become. Apart from that, it reduces the status of any of the universities in global ranking.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelImagine this: a student spends years studying, completes all required assignments, and passes every exam. Yet, when the long-awaited graduation day arrives, they are thrust into an unnecessary anxiety when their names are omitted from the graduation list. Results mysteriously vanish, or worse, students are told they failed despite passing. Some are unfairly made to retake exams, while others face unethical demands from lecturers, ranging from bribes to sexual favours in exchange for grades.
Adding to the chaos, many students graduate with outdated knowledge because their lecturers rely on textbooks and notes from the 1950s, grossly disconnected from modern trends and realities. Maybe that’s why no Nigerian public University is in the top 800 in Times Higher Education World University Rankings. It’s not uncommon for best graduating students to have their awards unjustly given to someone else due to unapologetic administrative blunders.
These aren’t isolated incidents but recurring failures plaguing public universities across Nigeria.
In today’s tech-driven world, these issues are baffling. Universities track tuition and other outrageous fee payments with accuracy, preventing students from registering for courses or graduating when balances are not paid. Admitting more than required number of students into a department is handled efficiently when money is involved. Yet, when it comes to core academic responsibilities—like accurate marking of scripts, maintaining student records or preparing graduation lists—the system crumbles.
These inefficiencies rob hardworking students of smooth transitions into the workforce. Some face delayed careers, financial hardships, and emotional frustration while waiting for errors in their academic records to be corrected. Isn’t it unjust to hold back the ambitions of young Nigerians in this way?
As many universities go on breaks to prepare for new semesters and sessions, it is high time academic excellence is made a priority. Nigeria’s public universities must equip themselves with modern examination and record management systems to ensure efficiency, accuracy, and transparency.
Software solutions like Moodle, Blackboard, and ExamSoft offer robust platforms for managing assessments, tracking grades, and maintaining student records. Additionally, adopting systems like EduManage or OpenEMIS could revolutionize how universities handle academic data.
The world has moved on from analogue to digital lifestyle. Do away with paper collections that are scattered around different offices in the Universities without proper care.
Training staff to use these systems is equally important. Universities must invest in continuous professional development, equipping lecturers, administrators, and support staff with the skills needed to leverage these tools effectively. Recognition programmes should be introduced to encourage staff to embrace these changes.
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The Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission (NUC), and university governing councils must lead this charge. They should set clear standards for academic management and enforce compliance across institutions. Universities should also collaborate with technology partners to design customised solutions tailored to their unique needs.
If our universities can prioritise efficiency in financial matters, they can do the same for academics. By embracing digital transformation across the board—not just in revenue-generating areas but in those that truly serve students—Nigeria can restore faith in its higher education system.
