Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, the Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has called for the need to develop policies and programmes that promote inclusivity and equity in higher education, irrespective of background, gender or socio-economic status.

The former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin stated this while presenting a paper during the 22nd Conference of Rectors, Vice Chancellors and Presidents of African Universities (COREVIP 2023) holding in Windhoek, Namibia.

In the paper entitled “Breaking Barriers and Building Strategies for Advancing Excellence in African Higher Education” , Oloyede emphasised that higher education is a key driver of economic development and social progress which plays a crucial role in shaping the future of any nation.

Inadequate funding, restricted access to excellent education, brain drain, and obsolete curricula were listed by the JAMB Registrar as some of the challenges facing higher education in Africa.

He said that several factors were also to blame for the fall in the quality of higher education in Africa, naming some of them as institutional problems, bad governance systems, a lack of academic freedom, and insufficient finance.

To address the challenges, Oloyede sought institutional support by developing appropriate policies and governance structures.

He expressed concerns that despite recent improvements, millions of young people in Africa continue to lack access to higher education due to poverty, distance, gender, disability, and other factors.

To overcome the impediments, he suggested expanding the capacity of current institutions, establishing new institutions, offering scholarships and bursaries, and harnessing technology to reach rural and marginalized populations.

“We must develop policies and programmes that promote inclusivity and equity in higher education, providing equal opportunities for all regardless of their background, gender or socio-economic status”, he noted.

Oloyede, the former Chairman of the Association of African Universities (AAU) from 2009 to 2011, noted that African higher institutions frequently function in isolation, limiting their access to international universities’ experience and resources.

” Let us create a brighter future for the generations to come by expanding access, enhancing quality, promoting relevance and building bridges. We can create a higher education system that is truly transformative for our continent and our people”, he advised.

On funding, Oloyede advocated for the collaboration of governments, the corporate sector, and donors to develop long-term solutions to the funding issues that African higher education faces.

The five-day Conference in Namibia which has as its theme “Advancing Excellence in African Higher Education ” has over 600 participants which include Rectors, Vice Chancellors, Researchers and other stakeholders in attendance.