By Daily Review
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has expressed concern over the persistent underfunding of Nigeria’s education sector, warning that inadequate investment continues to undermine infrastructure, research, and access to higher education.
Alausa disclosed that federal budgetary allocations to education have historically ranged between five and eight per cent of the national budget, far below the 15 to 20 per cent benchmark recommended by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The minister made the remarks in a paper titled “65 Years of Excellence: Obafemi Awolowo University and the Future of Higher Education in Nigeria,” presented during the grand finale of activities marking the 65th anniversary of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State.
According to him, inadequate funding remains one of the most critical challenges confronting tertiary education in Nigeria, alongside weak investment in research, the growing exodus of academic talent, and a widening gap between university training and labour market needs.
“Federal allocations to education have historically hovered between five and eight per cent of the national budget—far below the UNESCO-recommended 15-20 per cent. As a result, infrastructure decays, laboratories lack equipment, and libraries cannot subscribe to modern journals,” he said.
Alausa also warned that the increasing demand for university education is outstripping available admission spaces.
“Nigeria has over 200 universities, but our carrying capacity is far below demand. More than two million qualified candidates compete annually for fewer than 500,000 university spaces. This is a ticking time bomb,” he said.
The minister further lamented the mismatch between graduates’ skills and employers’ expectations, noting that many graduates leave university without the critical thinking, digital and entrepreneurial skills required in today’s economy.
“There is a gap between what our universities teach and what the economy needs. Many graduates leave with certificates but without critical thinking, digital skills or entrepreneurial competence,” he stated.
He added that the continued migration of lecturers and highly skilled graduates to Europe, North America and the Gulf region was worsening the sector’s challenges.
“Our best lecturers and brightest graduates are leaving in droves. This is a hemorrhage of talent,” Alausa said.
The minister also highlighted Nigeria’s low expenditure on research and development, noting that the country spends less than 0.2 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product on R&D, compared to over four per cent in Israel and nearly five per cent in South Korea.
“We cannot engineer a future on that kind of investment,” he warned.
Despite the challenges, Alausa expressed optimism about the future of higher education, describing Nigerian universities as centres of innovation capable of driving national development.
He reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding access to education through reforms and initiatives such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
“We have the Student Loan Scheme to ensure that no student abandons their dream due to poverty,” he said, adding that the revised National Policy on Education is also being implemented to improve learning outcomes.
Congratulating OAU on its 65th anniversary, the minister urged the institution to sustain its tradition of excellence and continue leading innovation in higher education.
In his remarks, OAU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simeon Bamire, described the university as one of Africa’s leading institutions, renowned for academic excellence, impactful research and the production of distinguished graduates.
Bamire said the university’s next phase of development would focus on innovation, technological advancement, global competitiveness and stronger partnerships with industry.
“We envision an Obafemi Awolowo University that will continue to lead Africa’s knowledge economy, deepen cutting-edge research, strengthen industry linkages and contribute meaningfully to solving local and global challenges,” he said.Headline Options: