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 on Thursday in Abuja at the University of Abuja 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.

The TETFund boss also suggested a review of the role of pro-chancellors, who currently serve as chairmen of governing councils and often head selection committees.

To strengthen the integrity of the process, Echono advocated the deployment of technology, including centralized online application platforms that allow document uploads and real-time tracking of applications.

He said electronic voting systems, virtual town hall meetings, online archiving and transparent reporting mechanisms would improve accountability, while the adoption of blockchain technology, secure voting platforms and data analytics could provide reliable records and performance evaluation metrics.

He also called for the establishment of accessible channels through which stakeholders can report grievances or concerns arising from leadership selection exercises, urging institutions to treat such complaints seriously and address them promptly.

Echono further emphasised the need for leadership training and development programmes for prospective university administrators, focusing on ethical leadership, governance principles and strategic planning.

To combat political interference, he called for the introduction of legislative reforms, ensuring the autonomy of universities in leadership appointments.

In his remarks, Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Hakeem Fawehinmi, described the lecture as timely and relevant to ongoing discussions on university governance and leadership selection in Nigeria.

Prof. Fawehinmi said the event marked a significant milestone for the institution. He praised the choice of the guest lecturer, describing him as an accomplished public servant, administrator and scholar whose extensive experience in the education sector made him uniquely qualified to speak on the subject.

According to the Vice-Chancellor, Echono’s career trajectory, which includes serving as Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministries of Agriculture, Communications and Education before becoming Executive Secretary of TETFund, demonstrates his deep understanding of public administration and higher education governance.

Fawehinmi also noted that Echono’s academic research on leadership selection in federal universities further underscored his authority on the topic.

The Vice-Chancellor expressed optimism that the recommendations presented during the lecture would stimulate discussions among university administrators and governing councils on improving leadership selection processes across federal universities.

Drawing from his own experience as a beneficiary of the university leadership selection process, Fawehinmi said the lecture offered valuable lessons that could help institutions strengthen transparency, fairness and effectiveness in appointing university leaders.

Additional author: Egbadon Felix (Abuja)