By Ayodele Abere
Vice Chancellor and the Inaugural Lecturer
“Nigeria’s wealth is neither agricultural products, nor vast solid minerals, nor oil, nor the second largest bitumen deposit in the world but the people. Deny the people good schooling system, the country population becomes a mere crowd, but empower them through effective schools, the population becomes the country’s major resource”,
Professor Haastrup Timilehin Ekundayo, made this submission while delivering the 91st Inaugural lecture of the Ekiti State University EKSU, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Tuesday, 20th May, 2025 at the University main auditorium with the topic; Towards Sustaining School Effectiveness In Nigeria: The Cosmetic Politics of Stakeholders.
The Professor of Educational Management, who noted that things are not in the right direction unless something urgent and drastic is done to arrest or redress the rot in the system, said the country’s future seems bleak. Adding that the leaders of tomorrow being prepared by today’s school system may not be able to deliver.
The Inaugural Lecturer who explained that it is nearly impossible for anyone who scored Bs and As in their O’ level results without malpractice or outside help to score below 200 in UTME , maintained that something is definitely wrong.
Highlighting some of the factors that hinder school effectiveness in Nigeria which according to him include; inadequate funding, inadequate infrastructure, security challenges, and social vices, Professor Ekundayo therefore pointed out that the society needs a school system that works, not a system that seems to work.
Stressing that there is need for government at all levels to devote more financial resources to the education sector, so that the sector can be more effective in its day-to-day operations.
Professor Haastrup Timilehin Ekundayo, also warned that the political leaders should stop playing politics with the policies of education as he explained that unstable policies cannot produce good results.
While urging that teachers should be well remunerated, he however called on educational administrators to be alive to their responsibilities.
In his remark, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Joseph Babatola Ayodele commended the Inaugural Lecturer for the job well done saying if his recommendations could be religiously implemented, that the stakeholders would get value for the investment in educational system in terms of production of the highly skilled, competent, relevant and versatile human capital needed for sustainable development in Nigeria.
In attendance at the inaugural lecture are; family, friends, colleagues, royal father and well-wishers.
