This paper analyses the opportunities and challenges of academic staff in higher education in Africa. The paper argues that recruitment, appointment and promotion of academic staff should depend highly on their productivity (positive production per individual human resource). The staff profile and qualifications should be posted on the University website in order to promote publicity and networking among scholars. The paper observes several challenges that face the African Universities today--funding (enhancement of financial base and sustainability), infrastructural demands, inadequate staff remuneration, high student enrollment with low staff-student ratio, and governance/management deficits. In spite of these challenges, it is possible to identify and implement strategic interventions to admit quality students/optimum level of student intake, appoint and retain quality academic staff if we are to build a well-functioning University for both institutional and society development in Africa.