University Advancement Centre and the Development of Nigerian Universities: Lessons from University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Read the full paper (PDF)Abstract
Nigerian Universities are grossly underfunded. But the underfunding is a worldwide phenomenon. In the face of this underfunding the US universities have maintained their top ranking in the world. One major secret of these universities' performance is their ability to raise funds from alternative sources through the University Advancement centers. This paper presents and discusses the functions of various aspects of university advancement and shows how it can reposition a university to start tapping from the large pool of fund existing both within the country and internationally. The experience of University of Port Harcourt was used to demonstrate this. The paper concludes by urging every Nigerian University to adopt the University Advancement Profession. By so doing the universities will start and continue to raise funds for their development plans. This will improve their infrastructure and lead to the production of quality human capacity and research outputs needed by the economy for economic advancement. Above all is a hidden positive externality to the entire economy of this alternative. The advancement profession helps to redistribute income from the rich to poor without attracting their negative attention and also channel excess resources away from frivolities to more desirable societal ends.