Former Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, revealed the figures on Tuesday while delivering a lecture on innovative funding and the future of education in the digital era.

According to him, between 2015 and 2022, the university retained 256 of its best-performing graduates as academic staff. However, by October 2023, only 17 of them were still in the system.

Ogundipe linked the mass exit to poor remuneration, low motivation, and unfavourable working conditions. He stressed that the loss of these young intellectuals undermines the university’s capacity for research, innovation, and mentorship.

He explained that Nigerian universities continue to struggle with underfunding, making it difficult to compete with institutions abroad that offer better pay, more conducive environments, and greater opportunities for professional growth.

Education experts have long warned that if the trend is not reversed, Nigerian universities risk losing their brightest talents to foreign institutions, further weakening the country’s higher education system.

Ogundipe called for urgent reforms in education financing, improved welfare for lecturers, and innovative partnerships that would make academic careers more attractive for young scholars.