Review Article
Year: 2021 | Month: January | Volume: 8 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 99-111
Prospects of University Autonomy in Nigeria
Douglas O. Nwaokugha
Department of Educational Foundations, Faculty of Education, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
A popular reform and change mantra in the university which stakeholders hold in high esteem, that through it, the university can maximally achieve its vision and mission is university autonomy. Among the numerous meanings associated with university autonomy is self-governance, self-determination, independence or the ability of a university to decide for itself what policies, programmes or lines of actions to take so as to enhance the achievement of the vision and mission of the university. Any university whose guiding and operational principles are hinged on the principles of autonomy can be easily transformed for the better. Using the philosophical approach, this paper discusses the prospects of university autonomy in Nigerian universities. The paper establishes that universities where autonomy is the norm can record astronomical and phenomenal improvements in teaching learning, research, prudent generation and management of resources, promotion of accountability and reduction in externally imposed bureaucratic bottlenecks that retrogress smooth administration of a university. Above all university autonomy establishes a culture of good governance, corporate and entrepreneurial innovations among others. The paper makes case that changes in the behaviour of the practitioners of university autonomy especially adoption of behaviours where the people can see autonomy as a practice that is continuously in motion, a dynamic and evolutionary process that changes over time and consequently makes new demands from its practitioners. Upon this the paper recommends making knowledge of autonomy a priority in educational provision.
Keywords: Autonomy, Prospects, University, Nigeria.
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