The Oragun of Oke-Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, has called on the Nigerian government to prioritize investments in infrastructure, teacher training, and inclusive education policies to ensure that education is accessible to vulnerable and impoverished Nigerians.
Oba Abolarin highlighted the Abolarin College, which he founded in 2006 to provide free education, as a model for delivering quality education to underserved populations.
The Oke-Ila monarch spoke in Owo while delivering the institution’s convocation lecture titled: “Modelling Quality Education for the reach of the Vulnerable.
He said government must increase investment in education by allocating more resources to underserved regions, pay more attention to focus services to vulnerable populations, improve infrastructure and teacher quality.
Oba Abolarin called for the integration of formal and informal systems of education to increase enrollment in all parts of the country.
He said: “In Africa and Nigeria, addressing systemic barriers requires a multi-stakeholder approach that includes governments, universities, international organizations, private-sector actors, and local communities.
“Community Engagement is key to success as engagement of local leaders and communities would address cultural barriers, such as child marriage, that hinder education in some regions.
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“Nigeria, as Africa’s largest economy, has the potential to serve as a model for addressing education vulnerabilities, but it must prioritize investments in infrastructure, teacher mining, and inclusive education policies.
“It is imperative to leverage on technology extensively. Leveraging technology implies extensive use of technology to provide remote learning opportunities in regions with limited
“By addressing systemic barriers and leveraging innovative approaches, the global vision of equitable and quality education can be realized for even the most vulnerable populations.
“Universities, importantly, have a moral and pragmatic responsibility to bridge the educational divide for vulnerable populations. Through research, partnerships, capacity building, and advocacy, they can drive systemic change, ensuring that education becomes not just a privilege but a universal right. By adopting innovative models and equity-focused strategies, universities can pave the way for an inclusive and transformative education system that empowers all learners, especially the most vulnerable.”
Founder of the institution, Hon Bode Ayorinde, said the institution offered scholarships to vulnerable and poor students.