Jonathan Critiques Poor Ranking of African Universities

Former President Goodluck Jonathan expressed concern over the poor ranking of African universities, stating that it is "terribly bad" that no African university is among the world’s top 100, with only the University of Cape Town in the top 200. Speaking in Abuja on Monday during a lecture titled “Harnessing Industrial Capacity for Inclusive Growth and Regional Stability in Africa” for Course 34 of the National Defence College, he highlighted that this situation hampers the continent's technological and industrial progress.

Jonathan urged African leaders to prioritize education and human capital development, citing the successful educational strategies of Singapore and India. He noted that Africa's abundant natural resources will not ensure prosperity without the capacity to transform them into high-value goods and services.

He warned that without urgent measures to enhance education and innovation, Africa risks missing out on technological advancements and industrial revolutions.