Ekiti SUBEB Chairman Calls for Higher Standards as Access to Education Expands ...delivers 605th Inaugural Lecture at the University of Ibadan

As student enrollment continues to rise across Nigeria, education leaders must ensure that expanded access does not come at the expense of academic standards, Professor Femi Akinwumi , a scholar of educational management at the University of Ibadan  has said 

Professor Akinwumi made the call while delivering the institution’s 605th inaugural lecture, titled “Achieving Quality Amidst Quantity: The Paradox of Managing Education in Nigeria.”

In his address at the well-attended event, he examined what he described as a persistent tension in the country’s education system: the drive to broaden learning opportunities and the parallel responsibility to safeguard quality. 

Within Nigeria’s complex socio-economic landscape, he argued, policymakers and administrators must adopt deliberate strategies to strengthen standards even as enrollment surges.

He outlined reforms focused on human resource development, effective leadership, sound administration and long-term sustainability, noting that such measures are essential to repositioning Nigeria’s education system for excellence.

Professor Akinwumi, who also serves as Executive Chairman of the Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board, is the fifth academic from the university’s Department of Educational Management to deliver an inaugural lecture. 

He used the occasion to reflect on his contributions to education policy and management in Nigeria, particularly in advancing discussions on quality assurance in resource-constrained settings.

Presiding over the lecture, the university’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Kayode Adebowale, emphasized the institution’s commitment to academic excellence and human capital development, describing the lecture as insightful and thought-provoking.

Also in attendance was Professor Olayemi Oyebanji, wife of the Ekiti State Governor, who said the address highlighted the urgency of maintaining high standards as access to education expands. Quality and quantity, she noted, must advance together.

The event drew academics, policymakers and other stakeholders from across the education sector.

Born in Aramoko Ekiti, Professor Akinwumi attended Erinjiyan/Ikogosi High School before earning a Bachelor of Education degree in Educational Management/Economics in 1991 from the University of Ibadan. He later obtained a master’s degree in personnel administration in 1994 and a doctorate in educational management in 2000 from the same institution.

He began his academic career in 1999 as an assistant lecturer and rose to the rank of full professor in 2013. Over the years, he has supervised about 28 doctoral students and published more than 120 academic papers. He has also consulted for international and national organizations, including UNESCO, UNICEF and the Nigeria Union of Teachers.