The Bishop of the Diocese of Ife, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Olubunmi Akinlade, has called for increased investment in Nigeria’s education sector, stressing that funding students without adequately supporting lecturers will not resolve systemic challenges.
Speaking during the 3rd Session of the 12th Synod, Akinlade acknowledged the Federal Government’s efforts to expand access to higher education through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, which has disbursed billions of naira to assist indigent students. However, he warned that such interventions would have limited impact if academic staff remain underfunded.
“If you fund the students to go to school and the lecturers are underfunded, you have not solved the problem. More has to be done for those who teach the students so that they can deliver quality education,” he said.
The cleric expressed concern over the declining status and remuneration of university lecturers, noting that the profession once attracted some of the nation’s brightest minds. He also highlighted the growing brain drain in the sector, as many lecturers seek better opportunities abroad due to poor working conditions and low wages.
Akinlade urged the government to prioritise improved salaries, welfare, and working conditions for lecturers, alongside sustained investment in infrastructure and learning resources.
He further criticised the country’s education funding levels, pointing out that the 2026 budget allocation of 6.1 percent falls significantly below UNESCO’s recommended benchmark of 15 to 20 percent.
The bishop also called for consistent policies to reduce the number of out-of-school children and improve overall access to education.
Highlighting local efforts, Akinlade said the Diocese of Ife runs scholarship and bursary schemes for indigent students, supporting over 30 students at its Divine Royal College and providing bursaries for about 10 tertiary students annually, at a cost of between N4 million and N5 million.
“We said money will not deter them from having the education they need,” he added.
He reiterated the need for a holistic approach to education reform, combining student support with adequate funding for teachers to improve learning outcomes. Akinlade also appealed to the Osun State Government to return mission schools taken over from the church and rehabilitate dilapidated facilities to restore their former standards.