A professor of Educational Management at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, Professor Akinrotimi Oyetakin, has called on the Nigerian government to allocate at least 20% of the national budget to the education sector. He appealed while delivering the university’s 42nd inaugural lecture titled “Cost Explosion and Expenditure Implosion of Tertiary Education: Equilibrium Heresies in Motion.”
Professor Oyetakin stated that the education sector in Nigeria is underfunded and requires urgent legislative intervention. He also proposed the creation of a special agency called the Education Emergency Relief Agency of Nigeria (EERAN) to respond to emergencies affecting schools, especially in areas hit by terrorism or natural disasters.
“The cost of education is rising fast, but the funds allocated are not keeping pace,” he said. “This creates a dangerous balance that weakens the system over time. We need to address this imbalance by increasing education funding above 20% of the annual budget.”
He stressed that although the government has been spending money on education, the amount is still far below what is needed to meet the growing demands in higher institutions.
Professor Oyetakin added that the sector is plagued by what he described as “super parasites and viruses,” which can only be addressed by more financial commitment and proper reforms.
“If the government implements these recommendations, we will begin to see real improvements in the quality and delivery of tertiary education in Nigeria,” he said.
Earlier in the event, the Vice-Chancellor of AAUA, Professor Olugbenga Ige, praised Professor Oyetakin for his significant contributions to the university’s academic development. He noted that the inaugural lecture plays a crucial role in fostering a strong academic culture on campus. “Professor Oyetakin has supervised 17 postgraduate students, including four PhD candidates,” Professor Ige said. “His scholarly work continues to enrich our academic community.”
Leave feedback about this