UNILAG Lost 239 First-Class Lecturers in Seven Years Due to Low Wages

The former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, has disclosed that 239 first-class graduates employed as lecturers left the university within seven years due to poor salaries and challenging work conditions.

Speaking at The Punch Forum on Tuesday, August 26, Ogundipe revealed that UNILAG had recruited 256 first-class graduates between 2015 and 2022, but by October 2023, only 17 remained.

He highlighted that of the 86 hired in 2015, 82 in 2016, and 88 during his own tenure from 2017 to 2022, less than 10 percent are still with the institution.

According to Ogundipe, the mass resignations were driven by low pay, lack of motivation, and deteriorating work environments.

He warned that without urgent reforms, Nigerian universities would continue losing talented academics and risk admitting underqualified postgraduate students.

He also raised concerns about gender imbalance in academia if trends persist, suggesting that men might leave the profession in greater numbers.

Ogundipe criticized the government’s inadequate support for education, pointing out that budget allocations for the sector consistently fall below the 15–26 percent recommended by UNESCO.

He added that the consequences of underfunding are already visible, with Nigeria having the highest number of out-of-school children globally estimated between 10 and 22 million.

He lamented the realities faced by many lecturers, saying, “We are tired. There’s no electricity when we get home, and the government is offering N10 million loans. What can that do build a security post?”

To address the funding crisis, Ogundipe advocated for alternative sources such as public-private partnerships, alumni contributions, philanthropy, education bonds, and investments in digital infrastructure.

He emphasized that the private sector must view education investment not just as charity, but as a strategic move to build future talent and markets.

Finally, he called on alumni to support their alma maters through donations and mentorship, and urged civil society, faith-based organizations, and the media to keep pressuring the government to prioritize education in national policy.