The decline in Nigerian universities has been perceived conservatively by university administrators as a transient "phase of negative growth" entirely attributable to external rather than internal factors. Since a condition of decline has not been apprehended, per se, it has not been possible to take appropriate management policy actions to contain it.
The pattern of management of Nigerian universities has remained largely unchanged for more than three decades despite major changes in the environment. While inadequate funding is perceived as the major factor in the present decline, this study highlights those aspects of management which may also have contributed to it -thus suggesting the need for major structural changes in management.
Evidence is presented to show that expenditure per student is very low in comparison with British universities and that this will be even more so if corrections are made for the social welfare burdens of Nigerian universities which do not normally form a component of university function.
Although the present study is preliminary in nature, a follow-up will focus on strategic management proposals to arrest the present decline.