Government Allocations to Universities in Benin Republic, Ghana and Nigeria: An Appraisal of Trends and Way Forward for Adequate Funding Dr. Isaac O. Akinyele Professor, University of Ibadan, Ibadan,Nigeria.

Map of Africa showing Benin, Ghana and Nigeria

Population in Millions GDP USD Billion GNP Per capita Educat ion Index HDI Benin Ghana Nigeria

No of Universities in Benin 1- University Nationale Du Benin Ghana 5 – University of Ghana, Legon; University of Science and Technology Kumasi; University of Cape Coast; University College of Education, Winneba; University of Development Studies

Nigeria –21 Federally-owned Universities, 16 State-owned Universities Federal Universities 1 st Generation – Ibadan, Nsukka, Ile- Ife, Zaria, Lagos and Benin 2 nd Generation – Jos, Calabar, Kano, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Ilorin and Port Harcourt 3 rd Generation – Minna, Owerri, Makurdi, Yola, Abuja, Uyo, Akure and Awka

Figure 1 Figure 1 Figure 1

Figure 2 Source: Ministry of Education Ghana

Figure 3 Source: Ministry of Education Ghana, UNESCO Statistical Yearbook 2000, National Universities Commission Abuja

Figure 4 Source: Ministry of Education Ghana

Figure 5 Source: Ministry of Education Ghana

Figure 6 Source: Association of African Universities 1991

Figure 7 Source: National Universities Commission Abuja

Figure 8 Source: National Universities Commission Abuja

Figure 9 Source: National Universities Commission Abuja

Figure 10 Source: National Universities Commission Abuja

Figure 11 Source: National Universities Commission Abuja

Figure 12 Source: Bursary Department University Of Ibadan

Figure 13 Source: Bursary Department University Of Ibadan

Figure 14 Source: Bursary Department University of Ibadan

Figure 15 Source: Babalola J.B and Ojelabi A.O 1998

Figure 16 Source: Ministry of Finance Abuja

Challenges Building a partnership to raise funds locally and internationally Improving Quality of instruction Rehabilitation of facilities staff development and retention Rehabilitation and/or replacement of teaching and research equipment Staff and student welfare

Government actions in Nigeria New move to grant autonomy to universities Annual base funding to be determined and universities required to generate additional funds Salaries and emoluments to be negotiated by unions with Governing councils Universities to be taken out of the public service

Education Tax introduced mandating the private sector to pay a percent of profits towards education Government to reintroduce bursaries and scholarships to assist students when tuition fees are reintroduced government establishment circulars not to be applicable to Universities

Training programmes for viable user fees Linkages of the universities with the productive sector Investments Productive and business venture

To Generate Sufficient Income for Survival, It is necessary for government to allocate special grants for investments and rehabilitation Government continues to cover the recurrent costs for a period of 5 years after the investment fund Thereafter, government should provide a yearly allocation making up at least 65% of each university’s requirements whilst these universities generate the rest

Conclusions Based on the trends discussed: government allocation to universities in Benin, Ghana and Nigeria do not meet the requirements to effectively carry out their mandate to produce the needed human resources for national development

Conclusions The poor funding allocation is impacting negatively on the quality of instruction in these universities Internally generated funds from various sources are needed to stem the decay in the Universities in the three countries. However, the governments and the private sector must be active participants in the process to succeed