The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, Architect Sonny Echono, has called for a strictly merit-based process in the appointment of Vice-Chancellors in Nigeria’s federal universities.

Echono made the call while delivering a public lecture on research findings at the University of Abuja, where he warned that political interference in leadership selection poses a serious threat to academic excellence, institutional stability and good governance in the nation’s tertiary education sector.

The lecture, organised by the Abuja Leadership and Governance Centre, focused on the theme, “Leadership Selection Process and Governance of Federal Universities in Nigeria (1993–2024).”

Presenting findings from his research, Echono said there is a strong positive relationship between transparent and inclusive leadership selection processes and effective governance in federal universities. According to him, institutions that prioritise accountability, stakeholder participation and transparency enjoy greater trust, stronger governance structures and improved institutional performance.

He noted that universities where leadership appointments are conducted openly and fairly are better positioned to achieve academic excellence, strengthen public confidence and foster a culture of innovation and research.

The TETFund boss further observed that leaders who emerge through credible selection processes are more likely to implement policies that promote research, encourage collaboration among scholars and create conducive environments for teaching and learning.

Echono identified political interference, nepotism and corruption as major challenges undermining the integrity of leadership selection in federal universities. He stressed that appointments influenced by factors other than merit and competence negatively affect institutional performance and weaken governance structures.

To address the challenges, he recommended the development and enforcement of clear, standardised guidelines for leadership selection across federal universities. He also advocated inclusive search committees comprising representatives of faculty, students, alumni and industry stakeholders to enhance credibility and public confidence in the process.

The TETFund Executive Secretary further called for greater transparency through the public advertisement of leadership vacancies, clear qualification requirements and the adoption of technology-driven systems such as online application platforms, electronic voting systems and digital reporting mechanisms.

On accountability, Echono urged regular independent audits of leadership appointments and the establishment of effective feedback channels through which stakeholders can report grievances and concerns.

He expressed optimism that implementing the recommendations would strengthen governance systems in federal universities and improve educational outcomes across the country.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, underscored the importance of academic leadership, institutional reforms and merit-based governance in Nigerian universities.

Professor Fawehinmi described the lecture series as a platform for promoting intellectual discourse on leadership and governance in higher education. He also expressed concern over what he described as the growing politicisation of vice-chancellor appointments by some governing councils.

Also speaking, the Director of the Abuja Leadership Centre, Professor Abdulhamid Ozohu-Suleiman, said the centre was established by TETFund to promote leadership excellence in Nigeria. He noted that the lecture series seeks to encourage intellectual engagement and policy-driven discussions on national development.

The event featured a dialogue session where experts examined challenges associated with leadership selection in universities and explored strategies for strengthening governance and institutional effectiveness.