ASUU chairman questions rising first-class degrees in private universities

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Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke has expressed alarm over the rising number of first-class graduates in private universities.

According to him, the trend is “worrisome”, calling for stricter regulation to maintain academic standards across the country.

Prof. Osodeke, voiced these concerns during an event held at Delta State University (DELSU). He linked the issue to the poor quality of primary and secondary education in Nigeria, which leaves students with insufficient foundational knowledge.

The ASUU Chair warned that if public universities adopt a similar pattern, it could severely undermine academic integrity in the country. He also spoke about the decline in academic standards in the country.

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“The struggle for academics to enjoy a decent standard of living saw some measure of success in the past when academics could sustain a comfortable life,” he said.

“The situation has changed; the unions must return to the frontline for a renewed phase of their struggle.

“ASUU will consistently speak out against injustices and support fairness”.

Osodeke believes first-class graduates are not marketing tools

The academician is advocating for stricter academic standards to prevent the misuse of first-class degrees as a marketing tool. He fears that the increasing numbers could be driven by a bid to attract more students, rather than reflecting academic excellence.

This concern follows recent statistics from private institutions like Salem University, which graduated 499 students, including 41 first-class (8.2%).

Similarly, Ajayi Crowther University produced 86 first-class graduates out of 2,679 students (3.2%), while Benson Idahosa University recorded 77 first-class graduates from 1,029 students (7.2%).

By urging stricter oversight and especially regarding first-class graduates, ASUU chief Prof. Osodeke hopes to safeguard the value of academic achievements nationwide.

Tags: Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, ASUU, Academic Staff Union of Universities, Salem University, Benson Idahosa University, Ajayi Crowther University, first-class graduates, Delta State University, DELSU, #NewsRoundTheClock, #nrtcnewsnigeria, #nrtcnigeria, #nrtcnews.