Ekiti SUBEB Chairman Urges Focus on Quality as Student Enrollment Surges

As Nigeria records significant growth in student enrollment, education stakeholders have been tasked with ensuring that efforts to expand access do not compromise academic standards.

Professor Femi Akinwumi, Executive Chairman of the Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), made the call while delivering the 605th inaugural lecture of the University of Ibadan. Speaking on the topic, “Achieving Quality Amidst Quantity: The Paradox of Managing Education in Nigeria,” he highlighted the ongoing tension between widening access to education and maintaining high standards.

Addressing an audience of academics and policymakers, Professor Akinwumi stressed that deliberate strategies are required to strengthen quality even as more learners enter the system. He proposed reforms focused on human resource development, institutional leadership, and long-term sustainability as pathways to repositioning the nation’s education sector.

Professor Akinwumi, a scholar in the university’s Department of Educational Management, becomes the fifth academic from the department to deliver the prestigious lecture. He used the platform to reflect on his contributions to education policy and quality assurance in resource-constrained settings.

Vice Chancellor Professor Kayode Adebowale, who presided over the event, commended the lecturer for his insights, reaffirming the university’s commitment to academic excellence and human capital development.

Also present was Professor Olayemi Oyebanji, wife of the Ekiti State Governor, who underscored the importance of balancing quality with access. She noted that both elements must progress together to achieve meaningful educational outcomes.

Professor Akinwuni began his academic journey at Erinjiyan/Ikogosi High School and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Educational Management and Economics from the University of Ibadan in 1991. He went on to complete a master’s in Personnel Administration in 1994 and a doctorate in Educational Management in 2000 from the same institution.