The Obi of Onitsha, Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe, delivered a stark warning about the state of education in Nigeria in a sobering address at the 27th Convocation and Investiture Ceremony of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL). Speaking on behalf of himself and fellow honorary fellowship awardees, Mr. Jahman Oladejo Anikulapo and Dr. Lasisi Olagunju, Achebe presented a powerful critique of decades of institutional neglect and underfunding that threaten the nation’s future.
Held under the theme: “The Humanities in the Modern Digital World,” at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) on Thursday, August 14, Professor Francis Egbokhare presented the convocation lecture titled, “Humanity and the Humanities in the Age of Emerging Technologies”.
Achebe, a respected traditional ruler, challenged the outdated notion that monarchs are confined to ceremonial duties. He pointed out that many traditional councils across Nigeria are led by highly educated and accomplished professionals, a fact often overlooked by critics. Citing an observation by lawyer Chief Niyi Akintola, Achebe noted that the collective educational and professional experience of the Ibadan Traditional Council often surpasses that of the Oyo State Executive Council. This statement served as a springboard for his central argument: Nigeria’s greatest asset—its human capacity—is being squandered.
The core of his message focused on the profound crisis in tertiary education. Achebe highlighted a decades-old challenge first identified by Professor Peter Okebukola, former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission. Back in 2006, Okebukola noted a severe imbalance: over two million candidates vying for just 750,000 available university slots. Achebe asserted that this problem has only worsened.
His speech provided a grim statistical breakdown:
Population Surge: Nigeria’s population has ballooned from 140 million in 2006 to an estimated 233.2-237 million in 2025, intensifying the demand for higher education.
Budgetary Neglect: Over the past 25 years, the average annual allocation for education has been a mere 7.81% of the national budget, far below the UNESCO-recommended 20-26%. In comparison, African peers like Ghana (24.37%), Kenya (21.70%), and South Africa (19.94%) have consistently invested more.
Stagnant Funding: The 2025 federal and state budget allocations for education averaged just 7.3%. Only a handful of states—Enugu, Kano, Kaduna, and Jigawa—exceeded the UNESCO guideline, demonstrating a critical lack of political will elsewhere.
Infrastructure Strain: Of Nigeria’s 262 universities, the vast majority (90.8%) were established in the last 35 years. Many struggle with severe funding deficits, inadequate facilities, and collapsing infrastructure.
The Brain Drain: The “Japa” phenomenon—a mass exodus of skilled Nigerian professionals to developed countries—is a direct consequence of these systemic failures, further depleting the nation’s intellectual capital.
Achebe acknowledged the “depressing metrics” but framed them as an urgent call to action. He challenged the audience to consider how Nigeria can dig itself out of this educational quagmire. Should the focus be on remedying past failures or attempting to leapfrog into a future dominated by digital technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI)? He noted that while Nigeria has a high internet penetration rate of 60%, it still trails behind countries like Morocco (92%) and Botswana (81.4%).
The Obi’s address concluded with a plea to the academic community and policymakers to confront this reality. The impact of prolonged neglect and underfunding, he argued, is a crisis that demands immediate attention. He questioned whether it is right for the present generation to leave such a massive problem for the future, urging a unified effort to reverse the decline and build a better nation.
Also on the agenda for the day was the Presidential Address by Professor Sola Akinrinade, induction of new members, conferment of awards of excellence in humanistic practice, investiture of Regular, Overseas and Honorary Fellows, the recognition of Distinguished Life Fellows as well as the installation of the new president.
The outgoing President of the NAL, Professor Sola Akinrinade, used his valedictory address to sound the alarm on Nigeria’s “rapidly declining value system.” Akinrinade called on the Federal Executive Council to launch a “Value Re-orientation” programme to prevent the nation from becoming a “valueless society.”
He identified the moral decline as the root cause of many of Nigeria’s challenges, including leadership problems, poor work ethic, a decline in civic responsibility, and a lack of patriotism.
Akinrinade noted that widespread frustration is driving many Nigerians, especially the youth, to seek opportunities abroad.
The academy’s recent discussions on national challenges, he said, ranging from economic instability and food insecurity to poor infrastructure and corruption, consistently circled back to this central issue of a crumbling value system.
He also addressed the crucial role of the humanities in the modern digital era. He emphasised that as the digital revolution transforms education, culture, and governance, the humanities must engage with and guide this transformation.
“The humanities help us imagine the future in this digital age,” he said, advocating for collaboration between humanists, technologists, and regulators. He suggested that humanists can help craft policies on digital ethics, promote digital literacy in a cultural context, and ensure that technology serves African values. He further added, “Our bird has sought to fly with one wing for so long… It is time we synergise for national development.”
Akinrinade praised the Obi of Onitsha for bringing “class and distinction to the institution of traditional rulership.” He also celebrated the other two new honorary fellows: Anikulapo, a promoter of arts and culture, and Dr Olagunju, a seasoned journalist.
Professor Akinrinade announced the induction of 31 new members and paid tribute to two notable fellows who passed away during the year: Professor Charles Nnolim, who died at 86, and Professor Ben Elugbe, a former president of the academy, who died at 79.
He concluded by thanking the academy’s members and sponsors for their support during his tenure.
