A Professor of Educational Management at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Professor Akinrotimi Oyetakin, has urged the Ministry of Education to collaborate with other stakeholders in sponsoring a bill at both the state and federal levels to increase annual budgetary allocation to the education sector to no less than 20 percent.
Speaking during his inaugural lecture titled “Cost Explosion and Expenditure Implosion of Tertiary Education: Equilibrium Heresies in Motion” on Tuesday, Oyetakin said such an increase is crucial for sustaining inclusive and equitable education for all Nigerians. He argued that the current funding structure is insufficient to meet the growing demands of the sector.
Oyetakin also recommended the establishment of a new agency—the Education Emergency Relief Agency of Nigeria (EERAN)—to handle the emergency management of educational institutions in the country, especially in light of increasing cases of insecurity and natural disasters affecting schools.
“The Ministry of Education should join hands with other stakeholders to push a bill before the State and National Assemblies to raise annual budget allocations to education to at least 20 percent,” he said.
He emphasized the importance of disaster preparedness in schools, outlining four critical phases: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. According to him, beyond the existing roles of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), there is a pressing need for a specialized agency focused solely on educational emergencies.
Oyetakin also decried what he described as “financial super-parasites and super-viruses” within the tertiary education system and advocated for integrated and transparent strategies for education financing.
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of AAUA, Professor Olugbenga Ige, commended Professor Oyetakin for his valuable academic contributions. He noted that the inaugural lecture exemplifies the university’s commitment to research, intellectual discourse, and academic excellence.
“This lecture contributes to sustaining a vibrant academic culture within our community,” Ige said, adding that Professor Oyetakin has successfully supervised 17 postgraduate students, including four PhD candidates, further underscoring his dedication to scholarship.
