Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has stated that education is not free anywhere in the world, stressing that both federal and state governments lack the financial capacity to provide qualitative education at the scale needed to meet Nigeria’s present and future demands.
Gbajabiamila made this assertion while delivering the annual lecture of Osun State University (UNIOSUN) in Osogbo on Tuesday. His lecture, titled “Interrogating the Funding of Education: Global Versus Nigerian Perspectives”, addressed the challenges and opportunities in financing education in Nigeria.
“Many consider education a privilege. I consider it a right—indeed, a fundamental and inalienable right,” Gbajabiamila said. “It is one of the rights that unlocks others. But nothing is ever free—least of all education.”
He cited a report by the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), which highlighted that despite the N2.18 trillion allocation to education in the 2024 federal budget, the funding still falls significantly short of what is required for Nigerian universities to compete globally.
The Chief of Staff pointed out that the number of universities in the country remains insufficient for Nigeria’s rapidly growing youth population. He urged Nigerian public universities to expand their international presence to attract foreign students who can pay tuition fees, which in turn would help subsidize education for local students—an approach widely adopted in developed countries.
Gbajabiamila also called for a zero-tolerance policy towards harassment and victimisation in higher education institutions.
Governor Adeleke Endorses NELFUND, Backs President Tinubu
Speaking at the event, Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, praised the Federal Government’s introduction of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), describing it as a vital initiative to ensure that students continue to have access to quality tertiary education regardless of their financial background.
“We must rally behind President Tinubu as he strives daily to fix the wrongs that have caused hardship in our country,” Governor Adeleke said. He urged fellow governors in the Southwest to align with the administration’s education policies and ensure that Yoruba students benefit maximally from NELFUND.
He also lauded UNIOSUN as a model institution, commending its Vice Chancellor and governing council for their performance and contributions to educational development in the state.
UNIOSUN VC: “Education is a Knowledge Industry, Not Free”
In his welcome remarks, UNIOSUN Vice Chancellor, Prof. Clement Adebooye, echoed Gbajabiamila’s sentiment, affirming that education is never truly free.
“Education is a knowledge industry. Somebody, somewhere, must pay for the process of teaching and learning,” he said. “That is why TETFUND must not be allowed to fail. Funding is crucial, but so is accountability.”
Prof. Adebooye appealed to the Federal Government to earnestly consider the proposals from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), noting that fair compensation and improved working conditions are essential for sustaining academic quality in Nigerian universities.
He concluded by thanking both the federal and state governments, as well as private contributors, for their continued support of the university.
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