Chief of Staff to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Olufemi Gbajabiamila has faulted the N3.52 trillion allocated to the education sector in the 2025 budget presented by President Bola Tinubu, saying the amount falls far short of expectations.
Gbajabiamila made this known while speaking as a guest lecturer at the maiden annual lecture of the Osun State University held at the Olagunsoye Oyinlola Auditorium, Main Campus, Osogbo on Tuesday.
He dwelt on the theme: “Interrogating Funding of Education: Global versus Nigerian Perspectives.”
Acknowledging that education is a right and not privilege of all Nigerians, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives argued that the Federal and State Governments cannot fund qualitative public university education if the system continues to run in its present form.
He said when compared to other countries of the world, the current budgetary allocation to education sector in Nigeria falls far below what the nation needs to guarantee a quality education.
Admitting that funding tertiary institutions has remained one of the pressing challenges of the present Nigerian governments, Gbajabiamila stated that the reality on ground is that the Federal Government and States cannot afford to fund qualitative education as required in this modern stage.
Bemoaning proliferation of public universities in Nigeria, the former Speaker disclosed that there are many bills seeking to establish nee universities in the National Assembly because “Every legislator is desirous of having a university in his constituency.”
According to him, proliferation of universities is inevitable when constituents start mounting pressures on their representatives for them to facilitate universities in their constituencies.
To this end, he said, “We end up sacrificing qualitative education to qualitative education.”
He asked Nigerians to desist from anticipating free education, saying, “Nothing is ever free unless we want to deceive ourselves.”
For him, Nigerian public universities are fast dwindling and could be likened to diploma offering institutions.
“Government cannot afford to fund these universities. Nigeria is one of the few countries in the world where funding of universities depend solely on government. In other countries, universities are funded minimally by government,” he noted.
The Chief of Staff canvassed for reforms in the public universities in the country so that foreign students could be attracted to study there. He explained that other countries are able to subsidise education for their citizens through the high fees being paid by international students.
Mentioning Oxford University, Cambridge among others, Gbajabiamila pointed out that the financial contributions of international students have been helping the governments of these countries in subsiding education of students who are there citizens. “You rob peter to pay Paul. There is nothing wrong with it. They take advantage of people coming to get education in their countries,” he said.
He called on university authorities to in formulate policies that could boost enrollment of international students in their institutions.
“There should be targeted efforts to boost funding of universities by attracting international students,” he stressed.
To validate his claim that Nigeria has very few number of foreign students in its universities, Gbajabiamila sought to know if there was any international student of UNIOSUN that was present at the lecture venue, no one stood up.
He said one can count the total number of international students in Nigeria in a jiffy, expressing worry that “where you find them, you find them paying the same amounts that the local students pay. Where the lies the advantage in having the international students?” The former lawmaker asked.
Preferring solutions, he said, “Nigerian public universities should do more to improve their international profile to attract foreign students. Our embassies can become important avenue to attract international students.”
For other countries to send their children to school in Nigeria, Gbajabiamila said, “It will require a dramatic and sustained increase in quality across board. If the quality of our education is below par, students won’t come.”
He called for reform of curriculum, universities embracing a culture of zero tolerance for unethical conduct, plagiarism, sexual harassment, and that they must establish a culture of excellence within the university system.
Condemning incessant allegations of sexual harassment in Nigerian universities, Gbajabiamila said, “We have a problem with harassment and victimisation in our university system. There is failure of institutional mechanism to protect students. True reform will require a fundamental shift in how these universities operate. Abusers should be punished and powers should be checked.
“Government and various stakeholders in the public institutions should ask, what make universities in the countries Nigerians are going attractive? We should audit our system mitigating our ability to recreate such conditions. Multi dimensional plans should be embraced. We will change the fortunes of our universities and everybody wins.”
He charged university authorities to engage in profitable businesses and other undertakings that would generate revenue for the institution, citing many examples of universities that have alternative revenue streams.
Advocating for a shift in universities being citadel of learning, Gbajabiamila remarked, “Our universities can become significant commercial player in various sector of our economy. Universities can invest, make money and pay their universities very fat salaries which they deserve. Invest in businesses and start up, commercial business. It is now clear that providing qualitative education without cost is impossible.
“Over 130 universities and almost 2 million people seek admission annually? Without establishing alternative revenue streams, government can’t provide quality education,” he maintained.
“The promise of our democracy isn’t that we will arrive at a place of perfection overnight, no, it is that by the joint efforts of millions of citizens working together, we might achieve incremental increase. Each of us should dedicate ourselves to common good,” the lecturer concluded.
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, in his address, commended Gbajabiamila, saying that UNIOSUN is experiencing steady progress and transformational leadership.
He said, “Osun state is also experiencing rapid improvements in her educational achievements. In national examinations, Osun is now ranked 7th position. We were 33rd in 2022. Our target is to be ranked number one in the future.”
Earlier in his address of welcome, the Vice-Chancellor of UNIOSUN, Prof. Clement Adebooye, described the lecture as a bold step by the state university to shape National policy conversations and reposition higher education through strategic intellectual engagement.
Adebooye further noted that the lecture reflects the University’s unwavering commitment to fostering dialogue, influencing policy, and deepening public understanding of critical issues affecting tertiary education in Nigeria and globally.
The event attracted dignitaries from government, the academic community, international organisations, the private sector, and traditional institutions.