Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, has urged Nigerian universities to pursue internationalisation by enrolling foreign students as a means of generating additional revenue and reducing dependence on government funding.
Speaking in Osogbo on Tuesday during the inaugural annual lecture of Osun State University, themed “Interrogating the Funding of Education: Global versus Nigerian Perspectives,” Gbajabiamila highlighted the need for innovative strategies to address financial challenges in the country’s tertiary education system.
He noted that many institutions globally sustain their operations through tuition paid by international students and suggested that Nigerian universities adopt a similar model to remain competitive and financially viable.
The former Speaker of the House of Representatives raised concerns about the long-term sustainability of public universities, especially with close to two million prospective students seeking admission each year.
“While we remain committed to the principle of educational access for all, we must face the reality that the current funding structure is unsustainable. Without urgent reforms, our universities risk losing their core mandate as centres of excellence and becoming mere certificate-issuing entities,” he cautioned.
With over 130 government-owned universities across the nation, Gbajabiamila stressed that federal and state authorities can no longer carry the financial burden alone.
He advocated for diversification of funding sources, with particular emphasis on attracting fee-paying students from abroad.
He explained that Nigerian universities should enhance their global presence and build academic reputations that would appeal to international students—many of whom currently opt for institutions in Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa.
“Universities should strive to become attractive to students from other countries who are willing to pay competitive fees—fees which might be difficult to impose on local students due to economic and political considerations,” he said.
He also encouraged education stakeholders to study how other African countries have successfully drawn international students, suggesting that Nigeria could replicate such strategies to boost its own educational sector.
Meanwhile, Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, lauded the university for launching the annual lecture series, describing it as a valuable contribution to national dialogue on education.
“This gathering has been enlightening. The insights shared today, especially by our guest lecturer, are timely and relevant. I am confident that the ideas discussed here will inform better policymaking across all levels,” Adeleke remarked.