There have been institutions of higher learning for centuries in Africa, but the phenomenal growth has taken place in the last fifty years, first in the later days of colonialism and then in the heady days of independence and commodity boom. Without them, there would have been no development.

The three highly distinguished authors have written the first comprehensive assessment of universities and higher education in Africa south of the Sahara. As can be seen from their biographies, they draw on experience from both francophone and anglophone Africa and from teaching in both the sciences and the arts.

J. F. Ade Ajayi is Emeritus Professor of History, University of Ibadan, and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos.

Lameck K. H. Goma, a graduate of Fort Hare, taught Zoology at Makerere and Legon and is a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Zambia.

G. Ampah Johnson taught Biology at the University of Abidjan and is founding Rector of the University of Benin.