The Senior Programmes and Project Officer, African Academy of Languages, African Union (AU), Dr Ojo Babajide Johnson, has expressed concern over the falling standard of education in Nigeria. He said the “Nigerian Education System is falling because we are not setting the right priorities”Dr Johnson made this statement in an exclusive interview session on “Meet your African CEO” on CEOAFRICA  Online Television.

 Explaining the reason for the falling standard of education in Nigeria, he said that rather than focus our attention on encouraging literacy and using it to impact our society positively, we lay too much emphasis on getting rich. 

He noted that most people would rather go into showbiz and other ventures that guarantee quick wealth than focus on education. This lacklustre attitude towards education was blamed on the orientation of the Nigerian society about wealth.

 According to him, “we worship money!” He noted that the society tends respect men with money better than men with certificates, the resultant effect being that people now place more emphasis on making money, fame and wealth rather than going to school and earning degrees and certificates.

Dr Johnson who is also the CEO of His Majesty Global Schools, Ibadan, Oyo State, advised that in order to raise the falling standard of education in Nigeria, we as individuals and the society in general need to change our orientation and set our priorities right by deemphasising wealth and reemphasising wisdom, by discouraging “get rich quick” syndrome and encouraging quality education.

He advised the government to set up quality control and disciplinary bodies to monitor and ensure discipline in educational institutions. He also urged official of such disciplinary bodies to desist from hidden agendas like; corrupt practices which can hinder the effective performance of their duties.