A prominent figure in the academic sphere, Dr. Dauda Busari, a lecturer in the esteemed Department of Sociology at the University of Ibadan, has delivered a word of caution to President Bola Tinubu, advising against perpetuating the precarious position of public universities in Nigeria.
Busari, known for his insightful perspectives, implored the federal government to refrain from implementing what he perceives as an anti-intellectual education policy under Tinubu’s tenure.
Emphasizing the pivotal role of educational development in national progress, he underscored that the trajectory of Nigeria’s advancement is intricately linked to the advancement of its educational system.
Speaking with conviction, the esteemed academic urged Tinubu not to preside over a further decline in the state of education unless there are tangible efforts to enhance the existing framework.
These strong sentiments were expressed during Busari’s delivery of the 27th Faculty Lecture at the University of Ibadan, within the Faculty of the Social Sciences, where he expounded on the topic “How much is enough? A Random Walk in the Marketplace of Social Research.”
The erudite scholar articulated his surprise at the government’s contemplation of extracting 40% from the meager resources generated by underfunded public universities, without a prior increase in funding from the government.
“There is a palpable culture of anti-intellectualism pervading governmental policies, particularly directed at public universities, which has regrettably become a prevailing reality,” Busari remarked.
He lamented, “One of the most conspicuous indicators of this regression into a disregard for intellectual pursuits is the deliberate impoverishment of universities, gravely compromising the quality of education. The state of infrastructure in Nigeria’s public universities is deplorable.”
“Faculty members are demotivated, and even the students, whom the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has consistently shielded from oppressive policies, have now regrettably transitioned into the primary antagonists of our union.”
With conviction, he concluded, “If the current administration is unable to elevate the existing standard, it should, at the very least, strive to maintain the status quo. We had hoped that this government would confront the inherent challenges faced by public universities decisively, but the signs we are witnessing imply a calculated move towards exacerbating the plight of university education.”
