The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Sunday Echono, has expressed deep concern over the growing political influence and corruption surrounding the appointment of Vice Chancellors (VCs) in Nigerian universities.
He described this trend as harmful to the quality of higher education in the country.
Speaking at the 36th convocation lecture of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, on Saturday, Echono highlighted how political interference and financial motivations have increasingly undermined the integrity of the university leadership selection process.
He pointed out that the sponsorship of VC appointments by politicians had made university management overly dependent on local power structures.
“The sponsorship of Vice Chancellor selection by political figures has made the administration of universities more localized,” he remarked, adding that the undue influence of external forces had tainted the fairness and credibility of the process.
Echono further revealed that the competition for VC positions had become financially driven, with some members of university governing councils being lured by monetary incentives.
He noted that contractors, who often have significant stakes in university procurement processes, have begun to sponsor VC candidates in exchange for future business opportunities, thus further compromising the selection process.
“Our universities are increasingly becoming local affairs, with the majority of academic and non-academic staff influenced by politicians from host communities,” he stated, emphasizing that political affiliation had gained disproportionate importance in VC appointments.
The TETFund Executive Secretary stressed the need for reforms to restore credibility to the process, calling for greater autonomy for universities to shield them from political interference.
He also urged that the criteria for selecting university leaders be transparent and merit-based, with strict accountability at every level.
Echono concluded by advocating for the strengthening of university autonomy and the implementation of clear, transparent procedures for leadership appointments to ensure that meritocracy, rather than political influence or corruption, prevails.
In recognition of his contributions to the development of FUTO, the university presented Echono with a “Macho Man” statue, a symbol of the respect and appreciation the institution’s community holds for his efforts.
