Higher education for sustainable development in Nigeria; Challenges and the way forward

Higher education in Nigeria is the education given after secondary education in universities, colleges of education, polytechnics, monotechnics including those institutions offering correspondence courses. The University system serves as a magnet for students neighbo uring countries. The goals are in consonance with those by the World Conference on Higher Education held in October 1998. Undoubtedly, higher education is a specialized form of human capital serving as an engine of development in Nigeria by producing men and women with professional skills. This attainment has been stimulated, in part, by interest a mong educators and trainers in the use of new internet based information technologies. Indeed, higher education in Nigeria considered in relation to global economic, social and cultural In this connection, the Federal Government of Nigeria governments have not been able to provide the necessary to maintain educational quality in the explo sion. The paper sees the need for universities to create a niche for themselves by specializing in areas of comparative advantage and encourages specialized universities of agriculture, technology and business studies. Additionally , the paper advocates the of more private universities in Nigeria. Keyword: Development, Education, Problems, Sustainability, Tertiary Education.