Akinfeleye's Book Launch: Scholars decry poor funding of education

Adelakun Abimbola, Koku Morayo, Famose Blessing and Ogunseye Ayomide.

Scholars in the field of journalism have expressed their dissatisfaction at the growth of the educational sector in Nigeria.

They made this known at the book launch of communication don, Professor Ralph Akinfeleye yesterday at the University of Lagos.

Delivering his speech at the book launch, Reuben Abati, a journalist and newspaper columnist related with the plights of lecturers and teachers nationwide.

According to him, the government hasn’t created an educational sector that favours its teachers and lecturers.

“Teachers are no longer the elite of society like they used to be. It is often said in Nigeria, that a teacher’s reward is in heaven, a popular description of the failure of teaching as a profession in the country”, he explained.

The father of the day, Aare Afe Babalola who was represented by Gboyega Oyewole (SAN) also called on the federal government for the prioritization in the funding of education in Nigeria, while giving his speech.

“Our university does not have the financial wherewithal to compete with other universities in the world”, he said.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria also appealed to the government to pay all outstanding salaries and fund education adequately to provide quality teaching and enable quality research in the country.

“The failure to devote civilian resources to education has resulted in the underfunding of higher education institutions in Nigeria”, Gboyega explained.

He condemned the government’s reduction of the percentage allocation into education in the 2021 budget.

The book launch which was formerly postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic featured the presentation of the 928-paged festschrift titled, “Issues in fourth and fifth estates of the realm”.

Dignitaries at the event also praised Akinfeleye describing him as a ‘teacher of teachers’ and recounting his professional impacts in their life.

Prof Ralph Akinfeleye went further to thank God for the grace to navigate and “get into a comfortable altitude with the University of Lagos landed”. He also thanked everyone that contributed immensely to the stability of the University of Lagos.

Also present at the launch were Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu represented by Hon. Oluseye Oladejo, the Archbishop of the Province of Lagos, the Most Revd. Humphrey Olumakaiye represented by Ven. Ife Okukobi, Dr. Biodun Shobanjo, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Dr. John Momoh, Prof. Rahamon Bello, Chief Fassy A. Yusuf, Chief Gboyega Oyewole (SAN), Prof. Lucien Obinna Chukwu, Prof. Ogwezzy Ndisika Abigail and the HOD of Mass Communication department, UNILAG, Prof. Tejumaiye Joseph.