A former Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University, Professor Labode Popoola, has made a strong declaration that free education, particularly at the university level, is not feasible in Nigeria or anywhere else in the world.
The Professor of Forest Economics and Sustainable Development at the University of Ibadan delivered this critical assessment during the fifth convocation lecture of KolaDaisi University, Ibadan (KDU-I), held on 7 November 2025.
The High Cost of 'Free' Education
Speaking on the theme "Our Universities, Our Common Future," Prof. Popoola dismantled the notion of free tertiary education, labeling it highly unrealistic. He backed his argument with compelling data from recent studies.
These studies indicate that funding elementary education alone and getting out-of-school children off the streets worldwide could require up to 40% of a country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He posed a critical question: with such a massive portion of the budget allocated to basic education, what financial resources would remain for other vital sectors like infrastructure, healthcare, defence, security, and international relations?
"There is a cost to it, and it must be borne or shared by some stakeholders, which could be parents or guardians, communities, foundations, philanthropists, and others," Popoola explained.
The State of Nigerian Universities and the Path Forward
The esteemed academic did not shy away from critiquing the current condition of Nigeria's higher education system. He lamented that public universities have become a mirror of the larger society's decay, plagued by unthinkable vices.
He expressed concern over the decline of a system once renowned for its rigour and integrity. "The universities today have become an open arena for all, where genuine intellectualism seems to flourish less," he stated.
Popoola noted that Nigerian universities are now more recognized for frequent disruptions and closures than for groundbreaking inventions. He also pointed out a contradiction: while institutions are quick to criticize government policies, they often struggle to manage their own internal affairs effectively.
For a better future, he insisted that universities must alter their trajectories. "For universities in Nigeria to be competitive, sustainable and positioned to drive progress towards the future we desire, we must come to terms with global realities concerning funding," he concluded.
In his own remarks at the event, the Vice-Chancellor of KolaDaisi University, Professor Adeniyi Olatunbosun (SAN), reaffirmed the institution's commitment to elevating educational standards. The law professor highlighted the creation of a Postgraduate School as one of the university's significant achievements over the past year.
