In an age where digital communication is central to service delivery, a new investigation has revealed that many Nigerian universities are failing a basic test of institutional efficiency—responding to admission enquiries from prospective students.
Out of 18 universities contacted by the Nigeria Education news reporter through a personal email address in June 2025, only four replied, representing a 22 percent response rate. The finding raises concern over the communication practices of Nigeria’s higher education system and its impact on access and transparency.
Testing the System
As part of the investigation, identical emails were sent to 18 federal and state universities across Nigeria. The sender posed as a prospective student interested in studying Biochemistry, who had scored 156 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME)—a score generally considered below average for competitive courses.
The goal was to assess how promptly and effectively Nigerian universities respond to public-facing enquiries without insider access or follow-up.
Among the institutions contacted were Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bayero University Kano, Federal University of Technology Owerri, University of Abuja, University of Ilorin, University of Jos, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike (AE FUNAI), and the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).
Only Four Replies in Four Weeks
Of the 18 universities reached, only four responded within the four-week monitoring period.
Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike (AE FUNAI) replied within 24 hours, explaining that the admission cut-off marks for the 2025 academic session had not yet been announced.
The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) responded the same day with a detailed step-by-step guide on how to apply.
The University of Ilorin responded two weeks later, also stating the 180 cut-off mark and encouraging the applicant to consider reapplying.
The enquiry email sent to each institution read:
“I’d like to study Biochemistry. However, I didn’t perform as I hoped in my UTME. I scored 156. I wanted to know my chance of gaining admission with this score and if there is an alternative for me.”
The remaining universities either ignored the enquiry or failed to issue even an automated acknowledgement of receipt. In some cases, university websites lacked functional contact addresses, and some emails, including those sent to Covenant University, failed to deliver entirely.
A Pattern of Neglect
This is not the first time Nigerian universities have come under scrutiny for poor communication practices. A 2018 report by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) found that only 13 out of 15 federal universities responded to email enquiries.
In a more extensive review by the same organisation, emails were sent to 186 addresses across 117 Nigerian universities. Only eight percent responded, even after follow-up attempts.
Such gaps have had serious consequences. In one documented case, a student from the University of Ibadan reportedly lost an international scholarship after the institution failed to respond to a foreign university’s credential verification request.
Worryingly, some universities still do not publish functional admissions or official contact emails on their websites, making it difficult for applicants to get reliable information or support.
Nigeria Versus the World
Globally, the story is different. A 2015 study by StudyPortals and the British Council, as referenced by Times Higher Education, found that 79 percent of universities in the United States and Canada responded to enquiries from international students. Only 21 percent failed to reply.
Even within Africa, Nigerian universities lag behind. In a separate email test conducted by ICIR across 25 South African universities, 20 percent responded within four days, all without any follow-up. About 24 percent of South African universities used automated acknowledgement systems compared to just 0.85 percent in Nigeria.
The study also revealed that email bounce rates were significantly lower in South Africa, at five percent, compared to Nigeria’s high rate of 17.7 percent, indicating a more up-to-date and reliable email infrastructure.
Call for Reform
In a global education system increasingly defined by digital engagement, experts say Nigerian universities must reform their communication systems to meet modern standards.
The lack of timely responses not only frustrates applicants but also erodes trust in the country’s educational institutions and may deny students vital academic and career opportunities.
Education stakeholders have called on Nigerian universities to prioritise digital transformation by training staff, updating contact infrastructure, and implementing responsive and transparent admission channels.
Until these changes are made, many fear that Nigerian universities may continue to lose credibility—one unanswered email at a time.
