Private sector drives support for educational philanthropy with advocacy
Philanthropy is a globally renowned gesture by well-meaning individuals in uplifting the stand of some other people. This act is not rare in Nigeria, as philanthropists, in recent times, have supported the government in many ways and changed the situation for many persons. This could be in areas such as health, education, community development, human services, sports and recreation, among others.
However, it has been ascertained that some philanthropic gestures do not align with the current need of certain communities. This usually occurs when there is no detailed research and interaction with the people to know what the problem is and how they intend to scale the hurdle of their community.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has advocated that budgetary provision for education, on the minimum, should be between 15 and 20 percent of the annual budget of a nation. In Nigeria, the 2019 budget fell short of it. This year, the education sector got N620.5 billion (about 7.05%), marginally above the N605.8 billion budgeted for the sector in 2018. Over some years, the country’s funding for education continued to rotate between 5 percent, 6 percent and 7 percent of the national budget.
There have been concerns expressed about the state of education in Nigeria. At various point in time, stakeholders have called for the total declaration of a state of emergency in that sector.
All of these challenges have brought the timely intervention of The Akin Ogunbiyi Foundation, which is at the forefront of raising the bar of the standard of education in Osun State. The Foundation is not just giving funds to enhance education but has also led the discourse by inviting stakeholders to chart a way forward for education in the state and Nigeria at large.
The Akin Ogunbiyi Foundation Lecture Series was held in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, with the theme “Education as an input variable for National Development.” The keynote speaker at the event was the former Vice-chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University and past secretary general, Association of Vice-chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Professor Michael Faborode, who set the matter open before Nigerians by calling for an urgent reform of the educational system.
Some of the highlights of Faborede’s presentation point to the need for education to be fit for purpose if we want to achieve enviable heights like China, Korea and other Asian countries that have advanced and made remarkable progress. Equally cited as very important is that leaders within the Nigerian educational system must provide leadership for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) and partner with the private sector and Non-governmental Organisations like The Akin Ogunbiyi Foundation in ensuring that Nigeria moves from a developing nation to a developed nation like China, Korea and others.