ADO-EKITI, EKITI STATE— The pro-chancellor of the Ladoke Akintola University of Innovation, LAUTECH, Professor Ayodeji Oludare Omole, has provided an engaging require a strategic balance between advocacy and institutional governance to protect the stability of Nigeria’s public universities.
Delivering the 30th Convocation Lecture at the Ekiti State University (EKSU) auditorium on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, the veteran scholastic cautioned that “power without duty” postures a substantial risk to the higher education system.
The lecture, attended by a cross-section of Vice-Chancellors, policymakers, and administrators, addressed the growing friction between labour unions and university managements throughout the federation.
Activism as a Catalyst for Reform
Drawing from his extensive background in the Academic Personnel Union of Universities (ASUU), Teacher Omole acknowledged that advocacy has traditionally been the “catalyst for reform” in Nigeria.
He kept in mind that advocacy and protests have been instrumental in safeguarding university autonomy and resisting policies that suppress scholastic growth.
Nevertheless, Omole argued that for universities to flourish in the modern period, activism must progress beyond mere conflict.
He emphasised that the leap from the barricades of unionism to the boardrooms of governance requires a shift toward tactical negotiation and long-term preparation.
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The Difficulty of the “Activist-Administrator”
One of the most thought-provoking sections of the lecture discussed the shift of scholars from union leadership to administrative roles.
Prof. Omole observed that numerous academics struggle with this shift, as the characteristics that make a successful activist, such as unyielding defiance, can often prevent the patience and compromise needed for effective university management.
He explained Nigerian universities as “objected to areas” where power is delicately shared amongst Governing Councils, University Management, Academic Senates, and external regulators like JAMB.
The lecture drew full marks from the legal star, Teacher Akin Oyebode, who described the discourse as a “practical guide” for scholars aspiring to leadership positions.
Likewise, the Vice-Chancellor of EKSU, Teacher Joseph Babatola Ayodele, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to quality, explaining Omole’s insights as prompt and thought-provoking provided the existing industrial climate in the sector.
Securing the Future of Higher Education
As the occasion concluded, the consensus among individuals was that the “we-against-them” mindset between unions and management must be changed by a collective design.
The lecture functioned as a suggestion that while dissent is healthy for a democracy, the survival of the university system depends upon a management class that respects institutional frameworks while staying committed to social justice.