At the time of Nigerian independence there were three
universities. Twenty-two years later, there are 14 federal universities (seven
were established in 1979) and seven more are being planned with some states
agitating for their own. In the ‘50s and ‘60s most Nigerians went to Britain to
study. The University of Ibadan, Nigerian’s premier university, even began as a
college of London University. The British system of a University having a vice
chancellor, a chancellor, a registrar and a
string of committees still obtains in Nigeria, like those of other British
colleagues, were tagged along civil
service lines.
Since the ‘60s there has been a noticeable shift in the
pattern of movement of Nigerian students. Today, Britain has approximately
10000 Nigerian students and there are yet more in other European counties such
as West Germany. However, the US, today can boast of having four times more
students than Britain. There are many reasons for the shift. One is that some
students thought the fees in some British universities were high. Another is
what some sociologists would describe as the “open system” of education
available in the US. In the light of some similarities
between Nigerian and British Universities, and the fact that more Nigerians
study in the US today than in any other country, it is pertinent to examine, if
only generally the way Britain and American Universities are funded.
QUESTIONS
Substitute a phrase of your own wording for each of the
following, while bringing out their meanings more clearly as used in the
passage: (i) a string of committees (ii) tagged along civil services lines
(iii) similarities
What is the writer trying to suggest when he says: “In
the ‘50s and ‘60s most Nigerians went to Britain to study?
Name two “similarities” of the British and Nigerian
University systems as given in the passage.
Name two other countries apart from Britain where there
are Nigerian studies.
Why are there more Nigerian students in the US than in
Britain today?
(i) What is the effect of, “However, the US today can boast
of having four times more students than Britain? (ii) How would you re-write
the sentence?
MODEL ANSWER
(I) Various committees (ii) Similar to civil service
structure (iii) Unimaginably high proportions (iv) Noticeable agreements
He is saying that there are no enough higher institutions
to absorb qualified students
(i) Organisation of the university (ii) Lecturer’s salary
scales are similar to civil service grades
U.S.A..., West Germany.
The “open system” of admission in U.S. accounts for this
(i) This brings out the shift in the education of
Nigerians abroad (ii) The U.S. however now has four times the number of
Nigerian students studying in Britain.
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