Chairman and chief executive officer of Channels Media Group, owners of Channels TV, Dr John Momoh, has proffered solutions to challenges bedeviling Nigeria’s education sector.
Momoh, who was the guest speaker at the Baptist Academy Old Students Association (BAOSA) 170th anniversary and founder’s day in Lagos on Friday, said schools must be safe, functional and inspiring spaces again as the trust deficit must be reduced.
Speaking on the theme: ‘Bridging the gap- Restoring trust between schools, government and society’ the celebrated broadcaster and media mogul enumerated the challenges in schools today compared to during his time as a three-way breakdown which has far caused declining standards, youth employment and weakened civil life. These challenges, he said, have brought about a trust deficit between schools, government and society.
Momoh, an old student of Baptism Academy, commended the federal government on the recent curriculum reforms and renewed emphasis on technical and vocational education, and advocated partnership- a genuine social compact between government, educators, parents, alumni and the private sector.
“Across the country, classrooms are overcrowded, laboratories stand idle, and the joy of learning has too often been replaced by frustration and fatigue. The teacher shortage is acute – nearly 200,000 secondary-level teaching positions remain unfilled.
In many schools, one teacher handles multiple subjects, often outside their area of training.
“Poor remuneration, delayed salaries, and limited professional development have drained morale and driven many away from the classroom.
“Insecurity compounds these challenges. In the North-West and North-East, entire schools have shut down due to kidnappings and attacks. Some 8 million Nigerian children of secondary school age are out of school — the highest figure in sub-Saharan Africa. Among those enrolled, three-quarters cannot read or solve basic math problems. In certain regions, the sound of gunfire has replaced the school bell; in others, poverty and the rising cost of private education has turned learning into a privilege, rather than a right.
“And the private school sector, while filling gaps, brings its own dilemma – rapid, unregulated expansion, inconsistent standards, and rising fees that exclude the poor.
“Education, once the great equalizer, now too often reflects inequality.
Yet, in the midst of these difficulties, hope endures. The Federal Government’s recent curriculum reforms, renewed emphasis on technical and vocational education, and the quiet heroism of teachers who still show up every day remind us that all is not lost. For if Baptist Academy and schools like it could rise from humble beginnings in 1855 to become beacons of moral and intellectual light, then we too can rebuild — not merely with bricks and mortar, but with vision, integrity, and a shared sense of purpose.
“Our task at this milestone, therefore, is not only to celebrate a heritage of excellence, but to ask — how can we, as alumni, educators, parents, and citizens, help bridge the widening gap between our schools, our government, and our society? How can we restore trust in an education system that once defined our national character?
“The restoration of trust in our schools requires a partnership — a genuine social compact between government, educators, parents, alumni, and the private sector, all working in concert to reclaim the purpose and prestige of learning,” he stated.
Speaking further the keynote speaker who gave his four prong solutions, tasked all players within the sector to restore the dignity of the teaching profession as no reform will succeed if teachers remain undervalued and underpaid.
“We cannot continue to demand excellence from classrooms where morale is broken and salaries are uncertain. We need deliberate investment in teacher training, incentives for rural service, and continuous professional development that rewards merit and integrity.
“Second, our schools must be safe, functional, and inspiring spaces. It is unacceptable that children still study in leaking classrooms or fear abduction on their way to school. Every child, in every state, deserves a secure environment that fosters curiosity and confidence. Alumni associations like ours can take the lead — by adopting schools, renovating facilities, providing solar power, or equipping libraries and ICT labs. In doing so, we demonstrate that education is not the government’s burden alone; it is our collective inheritance and responsibility.
“Third, we must redefine what we teach and how we teach it. The new national curriculum presents a golden opportunity to make learning relevant again — to emphasize digital literacy, critical thinking, craftsmanship, and entrepreneurship. But this must go hand in hand with moral education — the kind we received at Baptist Academy, where discipline, faith, and service were not mere slogans but the foundations of character. May the memory of our principal, Dr J. A. Adegbite continues to be a blessing.
“Fourth, we must hold institutions accountable — not with hostility, but with patriotic engagement. Alumni networks like BAOSA can play a bridging role, working with Ministries of Education, SUBEBs, and local school boards to track performance, mentor students, and monitor outcomes. We must become the conscience of the system — firm, fair, and forward-looking.
*Finally, we must remember that education is the truest form of nation-building. Every classroom rebuilt, every teacher trained, every student mentored is an act of national renewal. Our nation’s moral compass and future prosperity depend on the kind of citizens our schools produce.
“As we look back on 170 years of this noble institution, let us remember that we are not merely celebrating the past – we are renewing a covenant. A covenant between learning and leadership, between faith and service, between heritage and hope.
Momoh concluded that the future of Nigeria’s secondary education will not be determined in government offices alone but shaped by the hands and hearts of those who still believe that the classroom is sacred ground — where the next generation must be taught not just how to make a living, but how to live with purpose.
The ceremony had dignitaries, officials of the school, some of the present students who performed a rendition and members of BAOSA.
In order to improve infrastructure at the Baptist Academy School, an Infrastructure Endowment Fund was introduced and billionaire businessman Chief Kessington Adebutu, a former student of the school donated fifty million naira to the fund.
President of BAOSA, Mr Olumide Ajomale appreciated the wonderful gesture and noted that a billion naira infrastructure endowment fund was being planned and the launch will be officially held soon.
