Busari Akande, a University Don, and Professor of Business Finance have stated that the incessant strikes and subsequent closure of public universities in Nigeria have boosted the fortunes of private universities, particularly those in neighboring African countries.
“The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike is rather good for private tertiary institutions,” Prof Akande said.
Especially for those of us in French West Africa who live outside Nigeria’s borders. Private institutions in Nigeria, on the other hand, will be smiling to banks if they have everything it takes to run private universities.
“Private Institutions in Nigeria should be the first choice of any Nigerian student, but this is not the case.” Many students and parents are looking for quality and timely tertiary education outside of the country.”
Akande also chastised Nigerian students under the auspices of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) for staging nationwide protests and urging the federal government to meet ASUU demands.
He was particularly dissatisfied with the way the students had blocked major roads in various parts of the country, denying innocent road users the right to travel.
“It’s a misalignment of priorities.” The end-users, who are Nigerian students from low-income families, will bear the brunt of the consequences. Instead of major roadblocks, they should have marched to the National Assembly and Presidency.
Concerning the plight of Nigerian students caught up in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, he chastised the federal government for failing to be proactive in the manner of other foreign governments, which evacuated their students before the conflicts erupted.
