Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), has said that academics must return to the academia, while universities must be driven by merit.
Speaking at the 50th convocation of the institution, Babalakin said the most important area in any nation’s development is the quality of its education, as 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 Yemi Osinbajo, the late Prof. Adeyemo Elebute, Prof. Alexander Eyimofe Boyo; the late Prof. Akin Adesola; Dr. Sunny Kuku; the late Prof. Ayodele Awojobi; the late Prof. V.O.S. Olunloyo; Prof.Oye Ibidapo-Obe and Prof. Ifedayo Oladapo, who made the university stand out, Babalakin said: “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 legal luminary 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.
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Noting that Nigeria 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.”
He said he was convinced that the President Muhammadu Buhari government intended to reposition education appropriately, adding that the Minister for Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, 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.”
Urgingthe 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,” he added.
