*Says current system stifles innovation, backs OAU’s Smart Chemistry Project

By Nnamdi Ojiego

Former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Professor Oladapo Afolabi, has called for full autonomy for Nigerian universities, arguing that the current system of centralised control stifles innovation and prevents institutions from thriving through healthy competition.

Speaking at the first alumni reunion and fundraising event of the Department of Chemistry, OAU, held in Victoria Island yesterday, Prof. Afolabi, an alumnus of the department himself, said universities must be given the freedom to manage their affairs, including generating and spending their revenue.

“What we need is a policy shift,” he said. “Let universities determine their own destiny. Allow them the autonomy to raise funds, pay their staff, and maintain their infrastructure. The current model where the government restricts commercial fees and dictates operations is unsustainable.”

According to the ex-HoS, while the government has a constitutional responsibility to fund education, it cannot do so alone. He argued that by releasing universities from rigid financial constraints and instead offering students scholarships, bursaries, or education loans, the institutions can thrive independently and compete for excellence.

“In a system where universities are not allowed to be creative about funding, very little is done to sustain them. However, if each university is allowed to compete and attract the best talents, you will see positive growth. The fear that the poor will be excluded is unfounded as those who are qualified should be supported with scholarships,” he added.

Afolabi also used the occasion to drum up support for the Smart Chemistry Project, a transformative initiative aimed at revitalizing the Chemistry Department into a hub of cutting-edge scientific teaching, research, and innovation.

The event, which brought together distinguished alumni, faculty members, and university leadership, marked both the launch of the project and a renewed commitment to addressing the funding and infrastructure challenges facing the institution.

OAU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Bamire, commended the initiative, describing it as timely and aligned with the university’s vision of academic and research excellence. “We are proud of our alumni,” he said. “They’ve shown deep passion and commitment to supporting the university in ways that government alone cannot”, he said.

Also speaking at the event, Dean of the Faculty of Science, Professor Adeyinka Adesina, described the Smart Chemistry Project as a strategic investment in the future of scientific education. “A well-equipped laboratory is not a luxury, it is a necessity,” he said. “With this project, we aim to equip our students with the tools and experiences necessary for real-world problem-solving and national development.”

Adesina emphasized that the initiative is not just about infrastructure, but about reimagining how science is taught and practiced in Nigeria. “We want to cultivate an environment where students are not only taught theories but also trained to ask critical questions, experiment, and innovate. Science education must be hands-on and relevant to the challenges of our time — from energy to health, from agriculture to climate change,” he noted.

He further expressed optimism that the Smart Chemistry Project would serve as a model for other departments and institutions across the country. “This is just the beginning, our hope is that what we are doing here will inspire similar bold steps in other faculties and universities”, he stated.

The event also paid tribute to two iconic figures in the department’s history — Professors O.L. Oke and L. Ogunkoya — both now in their 90s, whose decades of academic service laid the foundation for many of the department’s achievements.