The issue of professors’ pay across Africa has become a topic of growing concern, especially when one examines the glaring disparity between Nigeria and other African countries. Despite being Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation, Nigeria pays its professors some of the lowest salaries on the continent. This has left many education stakeholders questioning whether the government truly values higher education as the backbone of national development.
According to recent comparative data, professors in South Africa earn an average of $4,789.50 per month, while their colleagues in Uganda earn $4,216.22, and in Kenya, $4,000 monthly. These figures reflect a deliberate policy choice by these governments to treat education as a national priority. Professors in these countries not only teach but also drive research, innovation, and policy, and their pay packages are designed to attract and retain top talent in the academic field.
In stark contrast, Nigerian professors earn an average of just $366.66 per month, and this figure is only reached after 10 to 20 years of annual increments as a professor. In practical terms, many earn significantly less due to deductions, taxes, and irregular salary payments. For a country that boasts of oil wealth, natural resources, and one of Africa’s largest pools of skilled human capital, this figure is not only alarming but also humiliating for the academic profession.
More shocking is the fact that Nigeria’s academic wages fall below those of smaller and poorer African countries. For example, Sierra Leone pays its professors $1,500 monthly, while Zambia pays $1,245.75, and Comoros pays $1,080. These nations have smaller economies and weaker global influence compared to Nigeria, yet their professors are treated with more dignity in terms of remuneration. Nigeria’s position at the bottom of the continental pay scale raises questions about misplaced priorities in governance.
The broader list further exposes Nigeria’s neglect. Eswatini pays $3,449.01, Equatorial Guinea $2,990.25, Lesotho $2,704.25, and Gabon $2,492.25. Even middle-income African nations like Namibia ($1,993.50), Botswana ($1,661.25), Angola ($1,329), and Seychelles ($1,162.50) still outclass Nigeria. When compared to these, Nigeria’s $366.66 looks less like an official salary and more like a living allowance that cannot sustain a professor’s family, much less fund serious research.
The implications of this wage crisis are severe. One of the most visible outcomes is the mass exodus of Nigerian academics, a phenomenon widely referred to as “brain drain.” Nigerian professors are leaving in droves for universities in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and even other African countries where their skills are more appreciated. Institutions abroad now boast of a strong Nigerian academic presence, proving that the global community recognizes the intellectual value Nigeria itself disregards.
Inside Nigeria, the morale of professors has declined to dangerous levels. Many have abandoned research altogether, focusing instead on survival strategies. It is now common to find professors running small businesses, engaging in consultancy work, or taking up political appointments and administrative positions outside the university system. This means less time for students, fewer research breakthroughs, and declining global competitiveness for Nigerian universities.
The recurring strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) are another consequence of this systemic neglect. ASUU has consistently demanded better salaries and improved working conditions, but negotiations often end in stalemates. For students, this has meant disrupted academic calendars, delayed graduations, and a loss of faith in the Nigerian higher education system. For the economy, it has meant reduced productivity and an under-skilled workforce ill-prepared for global challenges.
The situation also diminishes the prestige traditionally associated with the professorial title in Nigeria. Decades ago, professors were among the most respected members of society, enjoying recognition not just for their intellectual contributions but also for their standard of living. Today, the average professor in Nigeria struggles to pay rent, fund children’s education, or access quality healthcare. This erosion of respect makes academia less attractive to younger scholars who may otherwise have pursued academic careers.
Furthermore, poor pay undermines research output. Cutting-edge research requires both time and resources. A professor who spends time chasing alternative income streams cannot dedicate adequate time to scholarship. As a result, Nigeria lags in critical fields like technology, medicine, and renewable energy where academic research should be driving innovation. This underinvestment in intellectual capital locks the nation into dependency on foreign expertise.
Nigeria’s policy contradiction is striking. On the one hand, leaders consistently emphasize the need to diversify the economy beyond oil and build a knowledge-based society. On the other hand, the very architects of knowledge creation—professors are treated as afterthoughts. Without addressing this contradiction, Nigeria cannot realistically hope to compete in a global economy increasingly driven by innovation and specialized knowledge.
It is telling that even countries facing economic or political instability still manage to pay their professors better. For instance, Zimbabwe, with its long history of hyperinflation, still pays $548.25 almost double Nigeria’s $366.66. If Zimbabwe, struggling with economic collapse, can pay more, then Nigeria’s excuse is not financial incapacity but poor prioritization of education in governance.
The ripple effects are generational. When professors are demoralized, students suffer directly. Quality teaching declines, mentorship weakens, and research opportunities dry up. Graduates from such a system are less competitive in global markets, fueling unemployment and underemployment. This creates a vicious cycle where weak education contributes to weak national development, which in turn leads to further underfunding of education.
Stakeholders argue that urgent reforms are required. At a minimum, Nigerian professors deserve salaries that align with continental averages. Raising their pay to at least $1,500 per month would not only boost morale but also reduce brain drain and restore some confidence in the system. Beyond wages, investments in research funding, modern facilities, and academic freedom are also essential to restore Nigerian universities to their rightful place in global rankings.
The bottom line is clear: Nigeria has the resources and human capital to do far better. What is lacking is political will and a genuine recognition of education as a national priority. Professors are not just teachers; they are knowledge creators, policy advisers, and mentors to future leaders. To pay them less than $400 a month is not just unjust it is a national scandal. If Nigeria hopes to secure its future, it must begin by treating its professors with the dignity and respect they deserve.
