‘Why varsities cannot attract foreign professors’

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Prof. Charles Igwe, has said that poor remuneration and infrastructure are responsible for the inability of the nation’s universities to attract foreign professors.

Igwe stated that although Nigerian universities are patterned in the way of most foreign institutions, foreign professors, among others, would not teach in them because of poor take-home pay in the system.

He said: “Look at the way we are. If I tell you how much a vice-chancellor earns or how much directors and other principal officers earn, you will be shocked. What we earn is not commensurate with the amount of work we do. Go to the laboratories and have a look at what the universities have, they are still the same as what we had several years back. There are several other facilities that should attract people that we are lacking.

“If we have a conducive environment, no academic staff will leave the country. Even If we have a $1,000 salary for an academic, they will stay back. If we have a very good system, our people will work. So, it will be difficult to attract foreigners with the system in place.”

Addressing journalists in Enugu, as part of the 52nd Convocation ceremony of the school, yesterday, Igwe stated that no university vice chancellor would like to return to the system after completing their tenure in office due to the way the system runs.”