By Felix Khanoba
The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arc. Sonny Echono, has called for the adoption of electronic voting in leadership selection process in Nigeria’s federal universities, describing it as a critical step toward enhancing transparency, accountability and public confidence in the process.
Echono made the call on Thursday while delivering a public lecture on his research findings at the Abuja Leadership Centre, University of Abuja (UniAbuja), where he was also appointed as a visiting scholar.
Presenting a lecture titled, “Leadership Selection Process and Governance of Federal Universities in Nigeria (1993–2024),” Echono said the use of technology in leadership appointments would strengthen the credibility of university governance structures.
“The decision-making process for leadership appointments should be transparent, with clear documentation of the rationale behind selections made by governing bodies. The role of the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Governing Council as also chair of the selection committee should be reviewed.
” Leverage on Technology, Implement centralized application system with a dedicated online platform which allows for document uploads and real-time tracking of status of applications. Electronic voting, virtual town hall meetings, online archiving and transparent reporting will enhance the integrity of the process.
“Also, vital are blockchain technology for immutable records, secure voting platforms, data analytics for insights and performance and metrics for evaluation over time,” Echono said.
According to him, findings from the study revealed that political interference in leadership appointments continues to undermine academic excellence, institutional stability and effective governance within the nation’s tertiary education system.
He noted that the research established a strong positive relationship between transparent and inclusive leadership selection processes and effective university governance.
Echono observed that institutions that embrace accountability, stakeholder participation and transparency tend to enjoy greater trust, stronger governance frameworks and improved institutional performance.
He said, “The research clearly demonstrates that transparent and inclusive leadership selection processes are critical to effective governance in our federal universities. Institutions that prioritise accountability and stakeholder engagement consistently record better governance outcomes and stronger institutional stability.
“Where leadership appointments are conducted openly and fairly, universities are better positioned to achieve their academic objectives, strengthen public trust and foster a culture of excellence.”
He further stated that leaders who emerge through credible and inclusive processes are more likely to formulate policies that promote research, strengthen academic collaboration and create conducive environments for teaching and learning.
The TETFund boss, who is the first alumnus of the Abuja Leadership Centre to deliver a lecture at the institution, also noted that federal universities that involve students, faculty members, alumni and other stakeholders in leadership selection processes demonstrate stronger commitments to social responsibility and ethical governance.
Lamenting the growing influence of politics and patronage in university administration, Echono said: “Political interference, nepotism and corruption remain among the greatest threats to good governance in our universities. When leadership appointments are influenced by factors other than merit and competence, the entire institution suffers.
“Universities must be protected from undue external influence if they are to fulfil their mandate of producing quality graduates, conducting impactful research and contributing meaningfully to national development.”
To address the identified challenges, he recommended the development and enforcement of clear, standardised guidelines for leadership appointments across federal universities.
He urged policymakers to establish transparent procedures covering appointment processes, qualification requirements and stakeholder participation, while ensuring such guidelines are publicly accessible.
Echono also advocated the constitution of inclusive search committees comprising representatives of faculty, students, alumni and industry stakeholders to strengthen credibility and public confidence in the process.
“University administrations should establish inclusive search committees that reflect the diversity of stakeholders within the institution. This approach will broaden perspectives, improve transparency and strengthen confidence in the outcome of the selection process,” he said.
On transparency, he called on universities to publicly advertise all leadership vacancies, clearly outlining qualification requirements and application procedures.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of UniAbuja, Prof. Hakeem Fawehinmi, said the lecture provided valuable empirical insights into the challenges and opportunities surrounding leadership appointments in Nigerian universities.
Fawehinmi, who announced Echono’s immediate appointment as a Visiting Scholar of the university, expressed optimism that the lecture would contribute significantly to reforms in leadership selection processes within the university system.
“I believe this lecture will strike a responsive chord and generate discourse among university leaders whenever they meet.
“It will encourage them to examine the ideas being presented and explore how best to improve the process of selecting university leaders,” he said.
Also speaking, the Director of the Abuja Leadership Centre, Prof. Abdulhamid Ozohu-Suleiman, said the centre was established by TETFund to promote excellence in leadership and public governance.
According to him, the centre has trained leaders across various sectors through advanced programmes in leadership, public governance, public policy, strategic studies and military studies.
He added that graduates of the centre had produced valuable research outputs deserving wider public engagement and policy consideration.
The lecture series, he noted, was aimed at strengthening collaboration between academia and society while making scholarly work more accessible to policymakers, stakeholders and the general public.
He said the initiative would also help reverse the trend of leaving important intellectual contributions confined to archives and bookshelves.
“This objective is consistent with the educational repository data bank policy of the Federal Government.
“This lecture series ensures that cutting-edge doctoral theses are publicly presented, published and shared with critical stakeholders,” he said.
A major highlight of the event was the presentation of a plaque to Echono by the Vice-Chancellor.
The event attracted prominent dignitaries and academics from across the country, including former Military Governor of Plateau State, Major General Lawrence Onoja (rtd), who was part of the high level Idoma delegation.
The AUTHORITY recalls that Echono had in July 2026 bagged a doctoral degree in Public Governance and Leadership from the Abuja Leadership Centre.
