ABSTRACT
Nigerian higher education reached landmark in its history when in April 1959, the federal government appointed a commission 'to conduct an investigation into Nigeria's needs in the field of Post-Secondary School Certificate and Higher Education. When E. Hussey became Director of Education in 1930, he reviewed the entire educational system and then made proposals for its reform. He contemplated a gradual expansion of education which would permit not only 'a reasonable increase of school facilities for the masses but also of a gradually improving standard of higher education at the top'. The history of higher education for Nigerians would be incomplete without reference to the role of private sponsorships, scholarships and bursaries. The Ashby Commission issued its report in October 1960, basing its recommendations on three premises: its conception of Nigeria in 1980; Harbison's estimate of Nigeria's high-level manpower needs by 1970; and the commission's estimate of the limited capacity in regard to Nigeria's educational system.
