Varsities not dumping ground, academics must return to the academia, Babalakin says

The 77- year- old woman (second left) with Dr Wale Babalakin (left), Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe (third left) and others at the 50th convocation ceremonies of UNILAG on Tuesday. PHOTO: TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

The Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), has said academics must return to the academia anduniversities must be driven by merit.

Speaking yesterday at the 50^thConvocation Ceremony of UNILAG, Babalakinsaid he believed strongly that the most important area in any nation’s development is the quality of its education because that is where training happens and leaders are produced.

 He explained that no effort must be spared in improving the educational system, noting that the time had come to create an environment that would attract the best scholars to universities and this can be done by enhancing the remuneration of teachers.

Remembering with nostalgia the time when UNILAG was full of scholars like the late Prof. Teslim Elias; Prof. Clifford Olawoye; Vice-President YemiOsinbajo; the late Prof.AdeyemoElebute; Prof. Alexander EyimofeBoyo; the late Prof. Akin Adesola; Dr Sunny Kuku; the late Prof. AyodeleAwojobi; the late Prof. V.O.S. Olunloyo; Prof.OyeIbidapo-Obe and Prof. IfedayoOladapo,who made the university stand out, Babalakinsaid: “We must put an end to those who come here because they have no other option. This is a citadel of learning and we must achieve this goal. It will be tough and there will be resistance, but that is the only way out. Universities must be driven by merit. Only academics should find themselves in the academia. We must create an environment that would attract the best scholars.”

The lawyer said while he believed that education should be substantially free to the extent that a nation can afford it, if we had to choose between quality education and free education, we must choose quality education.

He said he supported the idea of universities being buoyant enough to afford the resources they require.

Noting that we must take immediate steps to improve education, Babalakin said: “We cannot afford to wait until we have the resources to support quality education, so I support the government’s position that government alone cannot fund education. It has to be funded by all stakeholders in the country.  We must have universities that can attract the best academics and the universities should have the resources to keep those academics.”

The lawyer said he was convinced that the President MuhammaduBuhari-led government intends to reposition education appropriately, adding that the Minister for Education, MallamAdamuAdamu, had reiterated this position on many occasions.

Citing the example of England, Babalakin said: “When education was facing a challenge in England, Prime Minister Tony Blair created a policy for refocusing education by enhancing remuneration in such a way that teaching became one of the most financially attractive propositions. We must find a way to get back to those days.”

Urging the graduating students to join the campaign to reposition education and become leaders of thoughts; Babalakin said: “The greatest gift you can have from God are ideas and the greatest disservice you can do to God is not to spread the ideas. What is the value of knowledge that is not disseminated? “We want to see you disseminate knowledge with great conviction. Those who create breakthroughs in the society are thinkers and usually, they are never popular at the time they are making their propositions. You have a choice between seeking the popularity of the unthinking populace or making yourself available to driving the thought process in this country. I believe you’ll choose the latter.”