EDUCATION MUST NOT SUFFER IN ONDO STATE
As an alumnus of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, I have a genuine and personal interest in the development of education in our state.
My recent write-up, “Why Must Education Suffer in Ondo State?”, was not intended as an attack on the Ondo State Government. It was written out of concern for our students, our institutions and the future of education in a state that I strongly believe has enormous potential.
I have also continued to engage the Ondo State Government through proposals because I believe in constructive engagement. I believe that when government, students, alumni, stakeholders and other relevant actors work together, we can achieve better outcomes for our people.
Against this background, I commend the NANS JCC leadership in Ondo State for taking up the ASUU situation affecting some tertiary institutions and declaring a protest.
The decision to protest was a legitimate expression of concern over an issue directly affecting students. More importantly, the planned action drew the attention of government and resulted in engagement between the NANS JCC leadership and the Ondo State Government.
According to the reports from the engagement, government explained steps being taken to address the concerns and appealed for more time. NANS subsequently suspended the planned protest and welcomed the government’s intervention, including the announced 60% increase in subvention to state-owned tertiary institutions and the commitment to implement the 2025 FG/ASUU agreement.
I believe this development deserves to be encouraged.
A protest can sometimes be necessary to draw attention to genuine concerns. It can compel stakeholders to listen, create urgency and bring issues affecting students to the front burner.
But protests can also have negative consequences when they become prolonged or poorly managed. They can disrupt academic activities, affect examinations and academic calendars, create tension and ultimately place additional pressure on the same students the protest is intended to protect.
That is why I believe the decision to move from protest to dialogue and engagement is a positive development.
Student leadership should be courageous enough to speak when students are hurting, but also mature enough to recognise genuine government intervention and give room for implementation.
At the same time, giving government time should not mean abandoning accountability.
The next important step is implementation.
If government approves increased subvention, our institutions should feel the impact.
If government commits to implementing the FG/ASUU agreement, the process should move forward.
If there are administrative or financial bottlenecks, they should be identified and resolved.
If there are genuine challenges preventing implementation, stakeholders deserve clear communication.
This is where I respectfully encourage His Excellency, Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, and the relevant officials of the Ondo State Government to continue giving education the attention it deserves.
I am not writing this to oppose the administration.
I am writing because I want the administration to succeed.
A government that gets education right is investing directly in the future of the state.
Whatever needs to be done to stabilise our tertiary institutions, improve staff welfare, support students, strengthen institutional funding and prevent unnecessary disruption of academic activities should be given the necessary attention.
And where government has already taken a positive decision, those decisions should not remain merely as announcements. They should translate into measurable improvements.
There must also be proper coordination between the various arms and ministries responsible for implementing government policies. Approved interventions should be able to move efficiently from government decision-making to actual impact.
No bureaucratic bottleneck should unnecessarily frustrate a policy designed to improve education.
And if there are concerns about the release or implementation of approved funds, the appropriate authorities should provide clarity and ensure that legitimate resources reach their intended destinations.
This is not about attacking anyone. It is about making government work better.
As an alumnus of AAUA, I want to see our universities become stronger.
I want our students to remain in school without unnecessary disruption.
I want lecturers to have a conducive environment to teach.
I want government policies on education to produce visible results.
And I want Ondo State to be known not only for its academic institutions but also for the quality of leadership and investment it provides to sustain them.
I therefore commend the NANS JCC leadership for bringing the concerns of students to the attention of government.
I commend the Ondo State Government for responding with engagement and interventions.
Now, let us move from announcement to implementation, from protest to progress, and from concern to concrete results.
My position is simple:
Support what government is doing right.
Encourage government to do more.
Constructively point out what needs improvement.
And always put the interest of Ondo State first.
Education should not suffer.
Our students should not suffer.
Our institutions should not suffer.
And the future of Ondo State must not suffer because of avoidable administrative challenges.
I believe in Ondo State.
I believe in our students.
I believe in the capacity of this administration to do more for education.
Let us all contribute to building an education system that future generations of Ondo State will be proud of.
Akinfe Ebunoluwa Felix
Alumnus, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA)
