Do Not Ethnicize Appointment of Vice-Chancellors: A Humble Appeal

By Prof. Friday Okonofua

The university, in its classical conception, is not merely an institution for the transmission of knowledge but a moral community of scholars, bound by a commitment to truth, merit, and intellectual freedom. From the medieval traditions of Bologna to the modern research university, its legitimacy has always rested on the principles of universality, objectivity, and autonomy. In this light, the growing trend of ethnicization in the appointment of Vice-Chancellors in Nigerian universities represents not just an administrative distortion, but a profound philosophical rupture within the concept of the very idea of the university.

At its core, the university is a space where particular identities are transcended in pursuit of universal knowledge. The scholar is not first defined by ethnicity, region, or creed, but by intellectual competence and ethical integrity. When leadership positions – especially that of the Vice-Chancellor – are allocated based on ethnic considerations, the university is reduced from a universal institution to a parochial arena of identity politics. The implication is stark: knowledge becomes secondary, and belonging becomes primary.

This transposal undermines the epistemic foundation of the university. It replaces the question “Who is most qualified to lead?” with “Who represents us?” In doing so, it transforms a meritocratic system into a distributive one, where offices are seen as entitlements rather than responsibilities.

The ethnicization of university appointments is often intertwined with political interference, whether from federal or state governments, or from internal pressure groups within the university system turning the university into a battleground for contestations. Governing councils, which ought to serve as custodians of institutional integrity, sometimes become instruments for advancing sectional interests. The University autonomy bill passed in 2010 which ought to be a blessing to the university system has now become an aberration. The result is a compromised autonomy, where decisions are not guided by academic standards but by external pressures and internal horse-trading.

Autonomy, however, is not merely administrative independence; it is the freedom to uphold standards without fear or favour. Once ethnic considerations dictate leadership selection, the Vice-Chancellor’s legitimacy is immediately restricted. Such a leader may feel beholden to the constituency that facilitated his/her appointment, thereby weakening their ability to act impartially in matters of discipline, recruitment, and resource allocation.

Leadership in any institution shapes its culture. A Vice-Chancellor selected on the basis of merit is more likely to prioritize excellence, accountability, and innovation. Conversely, one appointed through ethnic benefaction may face implicit expectations to sustain the very networks that secured their position. This often manifests in nepotism, uneven resource distribution, and lowered standards in staff recruitment and promotion.

Over time, such practices erode the university’s capacity for quality research, effective teaching, and global competitiveness. Academic departments may become fragmented along ethnic lines, collaboration diminishes, and intellectual rigor gives way to mediocrity. The university, instead of being a beacon of enlightenment, risks becoming a microcosm of the broader societal divisions it ought to transcend.

There can be no doubt that universities are critical engines of national growth and development. They produce the human capital, research innovations, and policy insights necessary for societal advancement. When their leadership is compromised, their output inevitably suffers. A system that prioritizes ethnic balancing over competence cannot consistently produce the high-level expertise and groundbreaking research required in a globalized knowledge economy.

Additionally, the persistence of ethnicized appointments sends a troubling signal to students (the future leaders of the nation) that identity outweighs merit. This not only undermines the ethos of hard work and excellence but also perpetuates a cycle of division and underperformance across sectors.

At its heart, the issue is one of values. The university is supposed to embody fairness, rationality, and the pursuit of truth. Ethnicization contradicts these values by introducing bias, sentiment, and exclusion into processes that should be governed by objective criteria. It reflects a broader societal challenge, where the tension between particularism and universalism remains unresolved.

To restore the integrity of Nigerian universities, there must be a conscious reaffirmation of meritocracy as a foundational principle. This requires not only institutional reforms but also a cultural shift in how leadership and success are perceived.

In conclusion, if Nigerian universities are to reclaim their place as centers of excellence and drivers of national development, the practice of ethnicizing the appointment of Vice-Chancellors must cease. Federal and state governments, as well as university governing councils, bear a profound responsibility in this regard. They must resist the pressures of sectional interests and commit to transparent, merit-based selection processes that prioritize competence, vision, and integrity.

Anything less would amount to a betrayal of the university’s noble purpose. If this trend continues unchecked, the foundational ideals upon which these institutions were established will erode, and their capacity to contribute meaningfully to society will diminish. Ultimately, the very rationale for establishing universities will collapse, leaving behind structures that exist in form but not in substance.

The choice, therefore, is clear: to uphold the university as a universal institution of excellence, or to allow it to fragment into an arena of competing identities. The future of Nigerian higher education – and indeed the nation’s development – depends on making the right decision now.

This is only a national and humble appeal!