By Mercy Adi
In an exclusive interview, Honourable Lanre Okunola, Member representing Surulere 2 federal constituency of Lagos state, has emphasized the need for improved funding and quality in Nigeria’s education sector.
This comes after the committee public hearing on his bill for an Act to Amend the Federal Colleges of Education Act, Cap. F8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, to Provide for the Establishment of Federal College of Education, Ijesha, Lagos State, and for Related Matters, at the national assembly complex Abuja.
Okunola stressed that education is the bedrock of any society, and Nigeria, with a population of over 200 million, requires enhanced educational integration.
“I believe that colleges of education should be situated in every local government of Nigeria, vis-a-vis because of our population,” he said.
On the issue of quality, Okunola acknowledged that it’s not just about the number of institutions, but also about providing adequate funding and maintaining standards. “Education is not cheap anywhere in the world… It requires a lot of funding, a lot of interventions,” he noted.
To address this, Okunola proposed public-private partnerships to leverage funding and expertise. “We begin to change the narrative, to look at it from that perspective… provide a leverage where there’s a public, private partnership,” he explained.
The proposed Bill aims to establish a Federal College of Education in Ijesha, Lagos State, which Okunola believes will provide opportunities for research-based education and enhance teacher development.
When asked about what makes his proposed institution unique, Okunola highlighted the diverse demographics of his constituency. “The dynamics in my own constituency is a true Nigerian… a mini Nigeria,” he said.
Okunola concluded by emphasizing the importance of policy development and collaboration to drive Nigeria’s education sector forward.
“It’s about policy development… how do we make sure that our own country moves from where we are to the next level?” he said.