The Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Dr Sonny Echono, has urged policymakers to put in place and strictly implement transparent guidelines for selecting leaders of federal universities.
 
Such guidelines, he explained, should clearly define appointment procedures, qualification requirements, and frameworks for involving relevant stakeholders in the selection process.
 
He spoke yesterday in Abuja at the University of Abuja’s public lecture series on Research Findings.
 
Organised by the Abuja Leadership and Governance Centre, the maiden event attracted academics, policymakers, university administrators, researchers, students, and other stakeholders from the education sector who gathered to discuss issues relating to leadership, governance, and institutional development in Nigeria’s higher education system.
 
According to the guest lecturer, policymakers must ensure that these guidelines are publicly accessible, allowing all stakeholders to understand the selection criteria and process.
 
Delivering a lecture titled “Leadership Selection Process and Governance of Federal Universities in Nigeria (1993–2024),” Echono stressed the need for reforms that would promote transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness in the appointment of university leaders.
 
He called on university administrations to establish inclusive search committees for leadership positions, comprising representatives of faculty, students, alumni, and industry partners.
 
According to him, broader stakeholder representation would encourage diverse perspectives and enhance the legitimacy of the selection process.
 
Echono also recommended regular surveys and stakeholder forums to gather opinions on the qualities and competencies expected of university leaders, noting that such feedback would help shape selection criteria and strengthen a culture of inclusivity.
 
On transparency, he advocated the public advertisement of all leadership vacancies, with clear details of qualifications and application procedures to ensure a wider pool of qualified candidates.
 
He further urged governing councils to make appointment processes more transparent by clearly documenting and communicating the rationale behind leadership selections.