By: Kehinde Amusan
The Nigerian Agricultural Economist, Prof. Adeniyi Osuntogun said the above statement while delivering a lecture on the topic – ” History and impact of higher education in Nigeria” at the Exhibition and Distinguished Personalities Merit Award organised by the Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan. The event which commemorated the 70th anniversary of University of Ibadan, occurred on Tuesday, 16th of October, 2018 at the Trenchard Hall, U.I in a bid to showcase the impact of the Faculty of Education from 1962 till date.
The exhibition which flaunted the Faculty’s antiques, apparatuses, and achievements, entertained a paper presentation by Prof. Adeniyi Osuntogun, who in his presentation disclosed that, not until 1967 when Faculty of Education moved to her present location, the Faculty occupied the same landscape as the Faculty of Art, the premier Faculty.
Quoting the National Policy on Education (2004), Prof. Adeniyi Osuntogun defined Tertiary Education as “education given after secondary education in universities, colleges of education, polytechnics, monotechnics including those institutions offering correspondence courses.” He further discussed the evolution of Higher Institutions in Nigeria. According to him, “Yaba College was the first higher institution to be established in Nigeria in 1932.” He added that it was this Yaba College that transformed into University College Ibadan now University of Ibadan. While enumerating the generation of of universities, he said “the fourth generation of Universities are those founded from 1991 till date.”
In his presentation, the former Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof. Adeniyi Osuntogun said the Nigerian Higher Institution milieu habituates“42 Federal Universities, 47 State Universities, 75 Private Universities, 107 Polytechnics, 27 Monotechnics, and 22 other Colleges.” He further enumerated the goals of higher institutions as stated in the National Policy on Education. He however pointed the challenges face by these established higher institutions in Nigeria. According to him, these challenges include – “Inadequate funding, lack of infrastructural facilities, increase rate of graduates unemployment, Brain drain, students unrest, and constant strike action.”
Thus, in his recommendation, Prof. Adeniyi Osuntogun urged the higher institution to boost their internal revenue in addition to government allocation. He also adviced for the promotion skill acquisition. Nevertheless, he stated that there should be proper review of the curriculum. According to him, “Practical training centres should be established by the government.” He added that, government should put more emphasis on entrepreneur by giving grants, loans, among other subventions. He further noted that “dialogue and consultation should be employed in limiting students unrest and constant strike action.”
Nonetheless, the exhibition which displayed the peculiarities of each department of the Faculty of Education concluded with the decoration of awardees with the distinguished Personalities Merit Award. These awardees include – Prof. Adeniyi Osuntogun, Engr. Adegoke Adeyemi, Prof. Olutoyin Akanmu.
