Otamere Gladness 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Sonny Echono, has called for a strict merit-based system in the appointment of vice-chancellors across Nigeria’s federal universities, warning that political interference continues to undermine academic excellence and institutional stability.
Speaking at a public lecture held at the University of Abuja on Thursday, Echono said transparent leadership selection processes remain critical to effective governance and sustainable development in Nigeria’s higher education sector.
The lecture, organised by the Abuja Leadership and Governance Centre, focused on findings from a research study titled “Leadership Selection Process and Governance of Federal Universities in Nigeria (1993–2024).”
According to Echono, the research established a strong positive relationship between transparent leadership selection and effective university governance. He said institutions that promote accountability, inclusiveness and stakeholder participation consistently record stronger governance outcomes and greater institutional stability.
“The research clearly demonstrates that transparent and inclusive leadership selection processes are critical to effective governance in our federal universities,” he said.
“Institutions that prioritise accountability and stakeholder engagement consistently record better governance outcomes and stronger institutional stability.”
Echono identified political interference, nepotism and corruption as some of the biggest threats facing federal universities, noting that leadership appointments influenced by considerations other than competence and merit weaken institutional performance.
“Political interference, nepotism and corruption remain among the greatest threats to good governance in our universities. When leadership appointments are influenced by factors other than merit and competence, the entire institution suffers,” he added.
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Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
Oluwatobi Adu 
Korede Abdullah 