Professor Akinrotimi Oyetakin, a Professor of Educational Management at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), has called on the Federal and State Governments to enact legislation mandating a minimum of 20 percent annual budgetary allocation to the education sector.
The call was made during his inaugural lecture titled, “Cost Explosion and Expenditure Implosion of Tertiary Education: Equilibrium Heresies in Motion,” delivered on Tuesday.
Professor Oyetakin emphasised the urgent need for innovative policies and dedicated agencies to revitalise funding in Nigeria’s education sector. He decried the presence of what he described as “parasites” draining the system and called for greater transparency and accountability in financial management across tertiary institutions.
He also proposed the establishment of the Education Emergency Relief Agency of Nigeria (EERAN) to handle crises affecting educational institutions, particularly those impacted by terrorism and natural disasters. He outlined a four-phase disaster management model for schools: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.
While acknowledging the role of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the professor stressed that managing emergencies in education requires the collective responsibility of all Nigerians.
According to him, “The Ministry of Education, alongside other stakeholders, should sponsor a bill that compels both federal and state governments to allocate not less than 20 percent of their annual budgets to education.”
He further called for an integrated and transparent funding system to root out what he termed “financial super-parasites” and “super-viruses” sabotaging the sustainability of Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of AAUA, Professor Olugbenga Ige, praised Professor Oyetakin for his academic contributions and commitment to scholarship.
“The inaugural lecture remains a critical academic tradition that deepens the research culture in our university. Professor Oyetakin’s scholarship has significantly enriched the institution,” Ige said.
