A Professor of Comparative Political Economy at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Adelaja Odukoya, has emphasised the urgent need for Nigeria to work towards the well-being of its citizens, warning that the consequences of a failed state would be catastrophic for both the leaders and the populace.
Prof. Odukoya sounded the warning while delivering his inaugural lecture at the university titled “Armageddon.” He decried the selfishness and greed of the political elite, accusing them of amassing unnecessary wealth at the expense of the masses while perpetuating an unjust socio-economic system that widens the gap between the rich and the poor.
The professor noted that Nigeria and Africa, despite their abundant human and material resources, remain plagued by poverty, insecurity, disease, malnutrition, illiteracy, and poor governance due to corruption and the greed of the ruling class.
He called for a collective effort from intellectuals, professionals, and citizens to produce selfless leaders who would steer the continent toward progress and development, cautioning that Africa must not descend into global irrelevance.
Prof. Odukoya also strongly criticized the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for overcharging prospective students seeking admission into tertiary institutions through its mandatory Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
He described JAMB’s centralized examination system as outdated and a violation of university autonomy.
“We are practically allowing JAMB and its registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, to get away with blue murder by intruding into university operations and exploiting hapless admission seekers through endless spurious charges,” Prof. Odukoya stated.
He further condemned the board for functioning like a revenue-generating agency, insisting that the funds it accumulates belong rightfully to the universities.
“JAMB has become a behemoth whose utility has expired. It’s time we held a requiem mass for it,” he said, advocating that universities be allowed to admit students independently.
Prof. Odukoya pointed out that despite two million candidates sitting for the exam annually, only a quarter gain admission, even as JAMB continues to declare surpluses from the exercise.
“The world has moved beyond centralized admission systems,” he noted, urging Nigeria to adopt more inclusive and efficient models.
In her remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics and Research), Professor Bola Oboh, praised Prof. Odukoya for his scholarly contributions and fearless advocacy for the marginalized.
“Professor Odukoya is a thoroughbred alumnus of UNILAG and continues to serve the university meritoriously in several capacities,” Prof.Ogunsola remarked.
The lecture underscored the pressing need for reforms in Nigeria’s political and educational landscape to ensure a more equitable society.