Jonathan: Poor University Rankings Hinder Africa's Growth

On Monday, during a lecture titled “Harnessing Industrial Capacity for Inclusive Growth and Regional Stability in Africa” at the National Defence College (NDC) in Abuja, former President Goodluck Jonathan addressed the issue of the poor global ranking of African universities. He asserted that this ranking is a significant factor in the continent's technological and industrial setbacks.

Jonathan lamented that no African university is among the world’s top 100, with only the University of Cape Town making it to the top 200, which he described as “terribly bad.” He urged African leaders to prioritize investment in education and human capital development, highlighting the importance of specialized universities to produce skilled manpower for innovation. He referenced the successful educational strategies of Singapore and India, which have transformed their economies through deliberate investment in education.

Jonathan warned that without focusing on technological development and specialized skills, Africa risks lagging behind in global industrialization and innovation.