Rented Campuses And The Threat To Quality University Education
By Inuwa Adamu
The National Universities Commission (NUC), as the regulatory body overseeing university education in Nigeria, has long held a crucial role in shaping the landscape of higher education. However, its policy inconsistency regarding university expansion and the use of rented campuses raises significant concerns about the credibility and stability of the tertiary education sector. At one point, the NUC firmly opposed the idea of proprietors operating multiple campuses, insisting on independent and fully developed institutions. This stance forced many investors to secure high-interest loans and make enormous financial commitments to establish separate universities. Now, in a bewildering shift, the same NUC appears to have relaxed its standards, allowing institutions to operate from rented locations, thereby undermining the sacrifices made by genuine investors.
This sudden change in policy direction is not only unfair but also threatens the very foundation of higher education in Nigeria. Universities, by their nature, should be long-term investments in human capital and national development. The
idea that an institution can simply rent a space and begin operations diminishes the seriousness of university education. It creates an unstable
academic environment, where institutions are at the mercy of landlords and lease agreements rather than dedicated investments in educational
infrastructure. This move sets a dangerous precedent that could lead to a proliferation of substandard universities, driven more by profit than by the pursuit of knowledge and excellence.
The inconsistency of the NUC’s policy is particularly troubling for those who adhered to the earlier stringent regulations. Many private university proprietors went through excruciating financial strain to meet the NUC’s rigid requirements. They built purpose-designed campuses, secured land ownership, and established independent administrative structures. These efforts were premised on the understanding that quality higher education demands stability, sustainability, and a long-term commitment to infrastructure development. By now permitting rented campuses, the NUC is effectively penalising those who followed the rules while rewarding those who opted for quick fixes and minimal
investment.
Beyond fairness, the reliance on rented campuses significantly lowers the standards of university education. Universities should provide an environment that fosters academic growth, research, and innovation. This requires not just lecture halls but well-equipped libraries, laboratories, student hostels, and recreational facilities, none of which can be guaranteed in a rented facility. Rented campuses create an environment of transience, making it difficult to establish institutional culture, traditions, and long-term development plans. How does a university chart a long-term vision when its physical presence is temporary? How does it ensure accountability when it can relocate at will?
Furthermore, the NUC’s relaxed approach to rented campuses opens the door for opportunistic investors who see education as merely a business venture rather than a noble cause for nation-building. This shift in policy sends a discouraging message to serious education entrepreneurs who are committed to building enduring institutions. Instead of encouraging long-term investment in education, the NU is now enabling quick-profit enterprises that prioritise revenue over quality. This is a troubling development, as it threatens to erode the credibility of Nigeria’s university system and diminish its standing globally.
For a country that desperately needs a robust education sector to drive innovation
and economic growth, this policy inconsistency is both dangerous and counterproductive. University education is not a transient enterprise that should be housed in rented spaces like a business startup. It requires stability, foresight, and commitment. The NUC must recognise that allowing rented campuses is not only a step backward but also a move that could significantly undermine the quality and reputation of Nigerian universities.
A regulatory body should serve as a custodian of standards, ensuring consistency and fairness in policy implementation. If the NUC once insisted on independent campuses for universities, then it must not lower the bar now simply to accommodate those seeking shortcuts. Instead, it should reinforce policies that encourage genuine investment in education while penalizing those who seek to profit at the expense of quality.
The future of Nigeria’s higher education system depends on the NUC’s ability to maintain consistency, fairness, and a commitment to quality. Rented campuses are a recipe for instability, substandard education, and a diminished global reputation. It is imperative that the NUC reverses this policy shift and ensures that university education in Nigeria remains a serious and enduring enterprise. Anything short of this will not only betray the sacrifices of genuine investors but also compromise the future of millions of students who deserve a stable and quality-driven learning environment.
Globally, successful universities operate as unified entities, fostering academic synergy, shared resources, and a strong institutional identity. The model of fragmented, compartmentalized campuses, often a direct consequence of rented
locations, has consistently proven to be detrimental to quality education.
Take, for example, the United States and the United Kingdom, where top institutions like Harvard, Oxford, and MIT maintain integrated campuses that promote seamless collaboration among faculties and students. Even where universities have multiple locations, they are developed as structured extensions, not temporary rented spaces. This is in stark contrast to the emerging trend in Nigeria, where universities operate from scattered rented buildings, making long-term planning and development nearly impossible.
In Ghana, the University of Ghana operates from a single, well-planned location in Legon, ensuring stability and continuity. Contrast this with some Nigerian institutions that have had to relocate multiple times due to lease expirations,
landlord disputes, or zoning issues. Such instability not only affects students and faculty but also undermines the credibility of academic programmes.
Moreover, countries like Germany, where universities are publicly funded and held to
strict infrastructural standards, do not permit makeshift campuses. A university must first secure a permanent location with the necessary facilities before it is accredited. This model ensures long-term investment in education,
rather than the opportunistic establishment of universities in rented spaces, which prioritizes profit over quality.
Nigeria must take a cue from these global best practices. Allowing universities to sprout in temporary rented facilities weakens the higher education sector, creates inconsistency in academic delivery, and ultimately devalues the degrees awarded. If the NUC is to maintain its credibility, it must align with global higher education standards by insisting on purpose-built campuses that guarantee stability, sustainability, and accountability.
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Adamu, an education management expert, sent this piece from Abuja. He can be reached
at Inadamu23@gmail.com.
