Our History

Introduction

Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-owned Universities in Nigeria (COPSUN), a platform for Pro-Chancellors of State-owned Universities, was established on 25^th July, 2005 in Abuja. The Committee came into existence out of the need to articulate and peer-review optimal governance practices to ensure effective uninterrupted delivery of high-quality university education and other services among State-owned universities.

The Committee has grown from its initial few members to the current fifty-seven (57) State Universities in Nigeria with active membership of thirty state universities. The Committee’s constitution was approved on 28^th September 2021, and it is now registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission on 24^th January, 2022. The Committee, in order to further its mission, is planning to acquire land in Abuja to build its national secretariat.

The Committee’s mission is to promote efficient management and funding of state-owned universities across Nigeria. Its vision is to promote a focused and purposeful academic leadership through which proactive initiatives can be taken on matters concerning University Education. The Committees objectives include the following;

promote efficient management and funding of state-owned universities across Nigeria;
support and facilitate the maintenance of the highest standard of education in State-owned Nigerian Universities;
promote a focused and purposeful academic leadership through which proactive initiatives can be taken on matters concerning University Education;
promote optimal governance practices to ensure effective and uninterrupted delivery of high-quality tertiary education and other services in the State-owned Universities and devise and promote a peer-review mechanism;
serve as an avenue for discussing common or peculiar problems relating but not limited to funding by the proprietors, Inter-University cooperation, maintenance of academic standards, Staff recruitment, International cooperation and linkages, general University development and matters related thereto;
promote unity and cooperation among State-owned universities;
ensure efficiency and cooperation in staff recruitment;
serve as advocacy forum or avenue for promoting sound educational policies, particularly relating to tertiary education in Nigeria; and
do any such thing as the Board of Trustees may deem proper or authorize.

Current and past Chairmen of the Committee

(a) Yusuf Ali SAN, FCIArb, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Osun State University, Osogbo (21^st January 2021 to date).

(b) Maj. Gen. Mohammed Magoro (Rtd.), former Pro-Chancellor & Chairman of Council, Kebbi State University, Kebbi (26 July 2018 – 20 January 2021).

(c) HRH Prof. G.I. Akenzua, OON, former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma (28 July 2015 – 12 July 2018).

(d) Justice Adolphus Godwin Karibi-Whyte, CON, CFR, former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Rivers State University, Port-Harcourt.

(e) Professor Biyi Afonja, former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State.

(f) Professor I.A. Abdulkadir, former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Kaduna State University

The current Vice-Chairman is Hon. Awwal Tukur, Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Council, Adamawa State University, Mubi.

Logo

The logo was ratified and approved at the Committee’s 50^th meeting of 8^thDecember 2020.

The Logo is mostly in green, which signifies Nigerian colour. The Graduation Cap is part of the universal uniform for the University graduates, which every graduate looks forward to wearing. The khaki band is the colour of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) uniform, wearing that uniform is the immediate ambition of each tertiary student. The twig inside the khaki band had eighteen (18) leaves on each side, making Thirty Six (36) leaves which indicate thirty six (36) states in Nigeria. The blue is calm, peace and harmony which is the key challenges of our Tertiary Education System.

The motto for the Logo is “Expanding opportunities for all” which denotes what the State Universities seek to do.

Biennial Conference

Since its establishment, one of its flagship programmes is the biennial conference, where topical issues that affect tertiary education in the country, especially those that affect state-owned Universities, are looked at, discussed, and scientific papers presented.

Previous Conferences

The Committee has held five Biennial Conferences in the last seventeen years where fundamental issues were discussed and resolved in Nigeria.

(a) 1st Biennial Conference – Kaduna State University, Kaduna in 2010;

(b) 2nd Biennial Conference – River State University of Science & Technology, Port-Harcourt in 2012;

(d) 4th Biennial Conference – Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State in 2016;

(e) 5th Biennial Conference – Benue State University, Makurdi, Benue State, 2^nd – 4^th March, 2020

The 6^th Biennial Conference is being hosted by Osun State University, Osogbo from 21^st to 25^th March, 2022

The challenges of higher education in the country and the resulting negative impact on the quality of products of the system remain a burning issue that has, over time, engaged the keen attention of critical stakeholders, including the Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities. These include but are not limited to acute underfunding, disconnect between the curriculum and the demand and realities of our economy, graduate unemployment and employability, institutional instability leading to unstable academic calendar. Others issues are political interference in university governance, erosion of autonomy, poor infrastructural and research facilities, inadequate staffing, especially of academic staff, and weak linkages between universities and industries.

Over time, the intervention role played by COPSUN has been very remarkable, and this year’s 6th Biennial conference will not be different.

Enquiries

Further enquires on the activities and operations of COPSUN can be directed to:

Mr Marcus O. Awobifa,
Secretary, COPSUN Secretariat
c/o 4, Parakou Street, Wuse II, Abuja.
E-mail – secretary@copsun.org
Tel. No: 08067319899; 08053023733

Mr Abubakar Sahabi Bakare,
Assistant Secretary
E-mail – secretary@copsun.org
Tel. No: 08069135656