UNILAG: Ogunsola, Bello Reject Current Education Models, Endorse 3-12-4 System

T The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Professor Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS, alongside a former Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Professor Rahamon Bello, FAEng, have declared Nigeria’s existing education models inadequate, calling for urgent reforms to align the sector with the nation’s growing population and development needs.

The education leaders spoke on Monday, January 19, 2026, at the J.F. Ade Ajayi Auditorium, University of Lagos, during the convocation lecture delivered by the Founder and Executive Director of Slum2School Africa, Mr. Orondaam Otto, as part of events marking UNILAG’s 56th Convocation Ceremonies.

In her welcome address, Professor Ogunsola underscored the need for a deliberate rethinking of Nigeria’s education system from the foundational level, warning that failure to act decisively could turn the country’s youthful population into a liability.

“Our current models will not serve us well. We need to educate at scale, without which a youthful population such as ours can become a burden rather than an asset,” she said.

The Vice-Chancellor also highlighted the importance of sustained and strategic investment in education to drive national development and enhance Nigeria’s global competitiveness.

The lecture, chaired by Professor Rahamon Bello—who is also the President of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering and Pro-Chancellor of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ogun State—centred on the need for structural reforms in the education sector, with particular emphasis on replacing the existing 9-3-4 structure with a 3-12-4 education system.

Delivering his lecture titled “Maximizing Nigeria’s Demographic Dividend through Urgent Education Reform for Global Competitiveness in the 21st Century,” Mr. Otto argued that the current education framework neglects early childhood education, which he identified as critical to cognitive development, language acquisition, values formation and social integration.

He called for an amendment of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Act to expand compulsory education from nine to 15 years, integrating three years of early childhood education and strengthening the senior secondary phase to better prepare learners for real-world challenges.

Responding to the presentation, Professor Bello described the lecture as timely and forward-looking, commending Otto’s intellectual contributions and endorsing his recommendations.

“These initiatives have the capacity to transform Nigeria’s education system, reposition tertiary education and further reinforce UNILAG’s standing as a leading institution in Nigeria and across Africa,” Bello said.

The event drew a large audience of dignitaries and stakeholders, including the mother of the guest lecturer, Anne Marie Otto; Nobel Prize winner, business leader, peace activist and philanthropist, Ouided Bouchamaoui; members of UNILAG’s management; partners, volunteers and staff of Slum2School Africa; beneficiaries of the Slum2School Scholarship Programme; as well as staff and students of the university.

Mr. Otto, a Nigerian social entrepreneur and education advocate, founded Slum2School Africa in 2012 after an encounter with out-of-school children in a Lagos slum. Since then, the organisation has expanded access to quality education for children in underserved communities and pioneered Africa’s first virtual learning classroom to ensure continuity during school closures.

Meanwhile, UNILAG announced that the 56th Convocation Ceremonies would continue with the congregation for the award of first degrees, diplomas, certificates and prizes to graduating students, scheduled to commence on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, across several faculties.