During the recent convocation of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr. Wale Babalakin, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the institution’s Governing Council, made the issue of meagre funding of public universities stick out like a sore thumb when he drew attention to how the institution is struggling to maintain high standards in terms of teaching, learning and infrastructural development. With more questions than answers, Head, Education Desk, IYABO LAWAL, writes that more action is needed than rhetoric
Their eyes, lit with excitement, they sat still waiting to be unleashed into the larger society. Their gowns – all blue – danced gently to the rhythmic breeze. Once in a while, they gathered together the flowing gown. The hats they wore stood tall on their heads like warriors’ helmets – they have come, seen and conquered. Yet, their battle –not that of survival –to be the best, to be great and make the society better has just begun.
They all looked resplendent in their attire tucked underneath their flowing graduating gowns. Their faces exuded futuristic ideals and purpose. They appeared like an army ready to defend the integrity and pride of their country and alma mater.More than pomp and circumstance, a more gloomy situation occupied the mind of the man who was about to address them.
But when Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the council stepped onto the podium, the first salvo he fired was about the death-dealing challenges lack of adequate funding universities like UNILAG are facing. Even though that he expressed hope that the university and others in the country have what it takes to be great –to make standards of education great again and make Nigeria one of the best places in the world to teach and learn.
Before he addressed the graduands –with a tone of melancholy but not disillusionment –he recalled a glorious past, a troubling present and a future that looks enchanting. The audience sat still – all paying attention.Dateline was the 2016/2017 convocation ceremonies of UNILAG, which ran for three days –from May 8 to 11. A total of 12,638 graduating students were awarded degrees, diplomas and certificates.
Three years into the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari under the All Progressives Congress, not a few education experts think that there is still much grounds to be covered in terms of providing sufficient funding for education and remedying the falling standards. While it is generally accepted that education is power, the Nigerian government has continued to allocate a sum of money stakeholders consider too small to drive the needed development in the sector.
The commitment of a government to a sector is gauged by the financial commitment it makes for that sector in its budget. In the 2017 budget, the government allocated the sum of N398 billion to the Ministry of Education while this year is N435billion, representing 7.04 percent of the total budget.
Therefore, analysts in the education sector feel that a government in deficit to the tune of N800 billion to universities for NEED assessment revitalization funds and over N60 billion as Earned Academic Allowances to lecturers, budgeting N398 billion for the whole education sector should not be taken seriously.
They feel there is crisis ahead. Generally, not just under this administration, the sector has not been receiving the desired budgetary allocation – it is always below the United Nations’ benchmark of 26 per cent. Thus, it is evident that education is being underfunded in Nigeria.
Babalakin is not oblivious to the major challenge of funding plaguing the university. He admitted that more needs to be done to put education in its proper place in Nigeria.He said: “There have been serious plans for education to be free at all levels. My position is that if there’s a choice between free education and good education at all levels, I choose the latter. It requires N1.2 million on the average to thoroughly teach a properly accredited course in the university. With the population of about 40,000 at UNILAG, we require N48 billion per annum. We are able to attract about N10 billion or N11 billion from the Federal Government.”
Babalakin explained that for UNILAG to effectively reposition its academic activities, for beneficial teaching and learning to thrive, there must be more investments and commitment to education by key stakeholders. The pro-chancellor urged the country’s intelligentsia to rise to the call to salvage the nation from relying on handouts from the federal government and some developed countries while urging the graduands to also be part of the elite group.
Following his formal investiture as the 12th vice-chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, weighing in on the matter said: “It is my vision to produce graduates that are locally competitive and globally relevant. We intend to build a spirit of possibility and clear re-orientation among students and staff. We are also deploying human and material resources towards rebranding, especially in the area of research.” Ogundipe added that among his goals is “the setting up of a modular refinery, as well as obtaining a mining licence.”
The pro-chancellor now addressing the graduands, in a gratifying tone, noted: “Today marks the beginning of a new life for you all. You started well by choosing UNILAG. When you start life with a UNILAG degree, you start with an advantage and you should take advantage of that to advance yourself rapidly. But there are certain critical issues. The first is keeping time. We must endeavour to keep time if we are going to have a great society. My second point is that all of you here are very important professionals. You are critical to the nation’s development. It is not sufficient for you to leave here and become successful.”
To him, the graduands must be agents in the society. He espoused the fact that the society can only develop if there is a united and selfless elite determined to protect the gains of the society. “That is who I want you to be because fortune will fade away rapidly – generations of good people have passed on anonymously – but those who live for long are the ones who live in the minds of people and those who commit their efforts to changing the society,” urged the senior advocate of Nigeria.
END
Be the first to comment