‘Education Funding’: Gov Adeleke in Attendance As President Tinubu’s CoS, Gbajabiamila Delivers Lecture in Osun

Ademola James,
Osogbo, Osun State.

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has emphasised the need for a new funding model for Nigeria’s tertiary education system. Delivering the Annual Public Lecture at Osun State University, Gbajabiamila highlighted the challenges facing the current system and proposed innovative solutions.

At the event which has the Governor of Osun State in attendance, Ademola Adeleke, Gbajabiamila noted that while education is a fundamental human right, it can be expensive. With over 1.9 million young people applying to universities annually, the old funding model is no longer sustainable. He cited his role in sponsoring and leading the passage of the Interest-free Students Loan (Access to Higher Education) Act 2023, which was recently signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Gbajabiamila encouraged Nigerian universities to learn from global institutions like Harvard, Oxford, and MIT, which have successfully diversified their income through commercial ventures, research commercialisation, and international student enrolment. He emphasised the need for Nigerian universities to reimagine themselves as engines of development, rather than charitable institutions.

Gbajabiamila identified deep structural issues in Nigeria’s higher education system, including unethical practices, lack of global competitiveness, outdated teaching methods, and poor infrastructure. He stressed that reforming higher education requires not just funding, but also standards, partnerships, and courage.

While concluding, Gbajabiamila called for the establishment of universities that can compete globally, inspire students, and contribute economically. He emphasised the importance of qualitative education in providing opportunities for the younger generation.