Prominent Nigerian academics, Professors Oluyemisi Obilade and Kolawole Kazeem, have called on the Nigerian government to consider reinstating free education, originally championed by the late Premier Obafemi Awolowo, as a crucial step towards revitalizing the country’s education sector.
During a discussion at the widely followed Boiling Point Arena, Professors Obilade and Kazeem emphasized that free education could be achieved if the government tackles wasteful spending and extravagance. They highlighted that prioritizing education funding would demonstrate the government’s commitment to addressing the nation’s challenges effectively.
Dr. Ayo Arowojolu, the organizer of Boiling Point Arena, facilitated the dialogue, which featured insightful contributions from various stakeholders, including the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Prof Saka Matemilola.
Prof. Obilade stressed the urgency of allocating resources wisely, stating that eliminating unnecessary expenditures could make free education a reality. She criticized the government’s misplaced priorities, citing extravagant spending on non-essential items while neglecting critical sectors like education and healthcare.
Echoing her sentiments, Prof. Kazeem lamented the decay in Nigeria’s education system, attributing it to a long-standing neglect of educational values. He criticized the trend of prioritizing personal gains over national development, leading to a proliferation of unqualified graduates and pervasive corruption.
Both professors underscored the need for a paradigm shift towards valuing education as a cornerstone of societal progress. They urged the government to confront systemic challenges and invest in education as a means of fostering national growth and development.