Funding, major challenge to Nigeria’s educational system ― President, Oduduwa University

The President, Oduduwa University, Dr Ramon Adedoyin has said that the challenge confronting the educational system in the country is funding. 

Making this known to Tribune Online on Monday, the Maye of Yorubaland stated that back then education used to receive the largest share of the country’s budget after defence during budget presentation but that is not the case anymore. 

He also stated that there are so many universities, polytechnics and colleges of education springing up without employment opportunities for the enormous graduands. 

Dr Adedoyin, therefore, suggested to the government to create employment that is not salary-oriented but priority on entrepreneurial skills 

The President explained that his university adopted the mechanism of Entrepreneurial studies for the students in order to ensure hands-on for them and make them have something on their tables even if there is no employment opportunity after graduation. 

He advised the students to take the entrepreneurial studies seriously, concentrate on it and believe they would be able to do something with it after the compulsory service to the nation. 

“The challenge about Nigeria’s educational system is funding. The way it used to be is not the way it is now. Universities kept on increasing, Polytechnics kept on increasing even secondary school and so kept on increasing.

“We used to know then whenever there was budget presentation, education received the largest share after defence. I am not sure education would be number seven now. It is a serious problem. 

“Universities kept on increasing and there are no employment. As a businessman, I discovered that most of the students who come out of universities and so on don’t have opportunities to work in places. 

“If we graduate 5000 students at Oduduwa university for instance and others too, where do you think all these people are going to work? 

“So, what we have done at Oduduwa University was to introduce entrepreneurial studies and we have three semesters in a year instead of the normal two semesters.

“Two semesters are dedicated to real academic work and the last third semester is used for entrepreneurial studies.

Although we charge the students, but we pool the funds and put it in a microfinance bank and we are not interested in taking anything from that money except for that entrepreneurial studies.

“So, we make the students to learn one or two trades and now out them together and create a new business hub for them.

“Create employment that is not salary-oriented. The Employment should be equivalent to their salaries and the system they have created still continues.

“My advice to students is to make use of entrepreneurial studies. They should take it seriously. Let them concentrate on it and believe that they would be able to do something after their NYSC”. He said.