The Academic Staff Union of Universities has expressed strong opposition to recent education agreements reached between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the United Kingdom, particularly plans to establish a campus of Coventry University in Nigeria.
The union raised concerns that such partnerships could negatively affect the development and stability of Nigeria’s public university system. According to ASUU, allowing foreign universities to operate locally without adequately addressing the challenges facing domestic institutions may further weaken public universities already grappling with funding shortages and infrastructural deficits.
ASUU leaders argued that rather than prioritising foreign university expansion, the government should focus on strengthening existing Nigerian universities by improving funding, upgrading facilities, and supporting research and academic development. They warned that establishing foreign campuses could create unequal competition and divert attention from reforms needed within the country’s higher education sector.
The proposed Coventry University campus forms part of broader education cooperation agreements recently announced between Nigeria and the United Kingdom. The initiative is expected to expand access to international education opportunities for Nigerian students without requiring them to travel abroad.
However, ASUU insists that such policies must be carefully reviewed to ensure they do not undermine national education priorities. The union urged the federal government to engage with key stakeholders in the education sector before implementing initiatives that could significantly reshape the country’s university landscape.
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