In an interview conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Monday, Ogunbiyi emphasized the pressing need for governmental intervention at all levels to prevent the imminent collapse of the educational system in the country.
The veteran journalist acknowledged the efforts of Prof. Tahir Mamman, the Minister of Education, in his pursuit to enhance the achievements of his predecessor. Nevertheless, the journalist observed that there are still unresolved issues within the education system, namely in relation to tertiary education.
I appreciate the efforts of the current minister in building upon the achievements of their predecessor. However, it is imperative that we now prioritize a leadership that will allocate the necessary focus and resources to the field of education.
The individual stated that they previously held the position of Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. They recollect authoring a report that highlighted the deficiencies within the education system.
Ogunbiyi, a former member of the Editorial Board and Executive Director of Marketing and Corporate Affairs at the Guardian Newspapers, advocated for adequate financial support for the education sector as a means of revitalizing it.
As per his assertion, nations devoid of a strong emphasis on education are destined for failure. Furthermore, he suggests that given the current state of public universities, many institutions may face an uncertain future within the next quarter-century.
According to the speaker, it is possible that certain universities may cease to operate within the next 25 years due to a lack of attention from consecutive administrations.
According to Ogunbiyi, the sole resolution entailed the infusion of additional funds into the system.
According to projections made by the United Nations, Nigeria's population is anticipated to reach a range of 350 to 400 million individuals by the year 2050. It is further estimated that approximately 40 percent of this population will require access to higher education.
This implies that there will be a necessity to construct a quantity of institutions that is twice the current amount in order to provide adequate accommodation for them.
However, at present, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has the challenge of being unable to accommodate the annual influx of 1.5 million qualified students due to the limited capacity of universities. What can be anticipated to occur in the span of 25 years? It appears that we are currently facing a predicament.
The speaker emphasized the necessity of permitting private entities to establish additional colleges, while concurrently advocating for increased financial investment by the Federal Government in its own institutions.
Ogunbiyi suggested that Nigeria should draw inspiration from India's educational system.According to the individual, there are five universities located on a street in India, alongside additional specialized institutions that receive significant financing from the government.
