STUDENTS’ ENROLMENT INTO TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA: THE INFLUENCE OF THE FOUNDER’S REPUTATION – A CASE STUDY.

This paper focuses on the phenomenon of behavioural patterns. Socio-educational cultural consequences as it affect students’ enrolment. Of great concern to the paper is the effect and influence of the private tertiary institutions Proprietors’ reputation. The level of Cognitive orientation, Evaluative orientation and Affective orientation as factors of influence, Affiliation and Affinity will be discussed. The paper will also point at several other surveys and educational policies in Nigeria, particularly in the last two decades: Factors of the increasing population of the admission seekers, the quality of the hitherto institutions with reference to teaching facilities, spaces, quality of tutors and mentorship. It does some comparative analysis on the previous policies such as 6-3-3-4 introduced by Jubril Aminu in 1987, the 1976 Universal Policy Education (UPE), and the western region Compulsory Universal Basic Education (CUBE) of 1955 which led to the 6-5-4 or 6-5-3-3 policies. It underscores before 1999 the Nigerian Educational system as a shared responsibility of Federal, State and Local government side by side with private institution, the factors of its proprietor as well as various nomenclatures of classes of degrees available in Nigeria tertiary Institutions. The government policy formulation bodies like National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Federal Ministry of Education, SUBEB et al also formed part of observations. The paper also touches Education Policy implementation, admissions, budgets and challenges of education system. It does a rap-up by showcasing the benefits of private universities, the rationalization for the creation of private universities in Nigeria, Afe Babalola University as a case study and above all the person of its Founder. In conclusion, it hopes to provide explanations, showing Socio-Educational cultural evidences and factors responsible for the marked influence of the private tertiary institutions’ Proprietors reputation in the enrolment patterns of prospective candidates. And to probably recommend some hints here and there that will allow for harnessing the benefits inherent in the adequate use of the Proprietors reputations