Civil Wars and the African Universities: The University of Ibadan Example, 1967–1970

Abstract

Civil war is not a new phenomenon in Africa. The Nigerian Civil War of 1967-1970 represents a dark past but provides an intriguing basis to develop a history that enables us to understand Nigeria’s direction. It is against this backdrop that this paper examines the impact of the Nigerian Civil War on the educational decline in the University of Ibadan. While some effects were immediate, such as diminishing student admissions and enrollments, a decline in postgraduate studies, and the insecurity of lives and property, other long-term effects manifested themselves after the war include problems such as displaced families, ethnic chauvinism, and the reabsorption of the Easterners into the University community. This work relies heavily on primary sources, archival materials, newspapers, and secondary sources to make its case.