Some education stakeholders on Thursday expressed support for the retention of First Class graduates by Nigerian universities as canvassed by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the educationists spoke against the background of calls by the TETFund that it was ready to sponsor such graduates for further studies.

A former Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) National President, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie, said that retaining the graduates would ignite the spirit of competition among undergraduates.

He told NAN in Lagos that the development would also add quality to teaching, learning and research in the system.

“That is another way of redeeming our system. It is another way to improve and encourage the system.

“This is the way it used to be in the past, where these first class graduates are immediately absorbed as graduate assistants, and this seems no longer to be the practice today in our universities.

“However, retaining them does not mean they cannot be allowed to go for their higher degrees. All these are what we should take a second look at, and see how we can make it work better.”

Professor Oyelowo Oyewo, a former Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, also called for the institutionalisation of such practice.

According to him, retaining first class graduates would assist in creating fierce competition among undergraduates.

“This will bring back the best qualities into our system, as they will equally be encouraged to go for their Masters Degree and PhDs.

“Having said this, however, I want to call for the institutionalisation of this; because in my own department for instance, we have been retaining our first class graduates.

“I cannot speak same of other institutions, but I think it will be a step in the right direction, if we should imbibe and encourage this culture; in doing this, these same first class graduates, having been students of that same institution, would identify areas of challenges and suggest the way out to management.” (NAN)