Nigeria, Feb. 4 -- The higher education system of any nation is designed as a critical arm of the state to enlighten the society about the elements that make for social harmony and social order, while at the same time getting the citizens connected with the state's policy and development priorities. The higher education system, in other words, is one of the crucial avenues by which a nation defines and articulates its pathways towards wealth and progress. The university system constitutes a critical component of the higher education dynamics. This is why, across the globe, tertiary education is often aligned to national objectives.

The Nigerian National Policy on Education is very clear on this. Tertiary education-within the overall edu...