Stephen Oluwole Awokoya
Encyclopedia
Stephen Oluwole Awokoya (1903 – 1985) was a former minister
of education in the old Western Region
of Nigeria. He was one of the leading architects of a nationalistic policy to promote formal schooling in Nigeria
during the 1950s. He is credited and also discredited for the creation of the universal primary education in Nigeria.
and also at Abeokuta Grammar School. After, the end of World War II
, he became the pioneer principal of Molusi College, Ijebu
-igbo. The College was a community
sanctioned project but had opposition amongst officials in the education board. However, the community rallied around and opened the school in 1949. After Awokoya left to join the western Assembly, a new principal, Tai Solarin was chosen to lead the school.
In between, he went to Great Britain
and obtained a BSc at the University of London
. While in London
, he became enthralled with African students who saw education and nationalism
as convulated ideas.
by Governor John Macpherson, threw open avenues for indigenous rule by 1951.
Awokoya joined politics and by 1952, he was made a minister of education. In July 1952, his position on education became public when he presented a white paper
for free and compulsory universal primary education, the report was largely kowtowing to the lines of the Action Group's electoral promises. Today there are still questions about his role in drafting the policy. Though, his vital role as one of the four major originators of the educational policies is not disputed. Claims that he was the lead architect have led to some arguments proving otherwise.
's comprehensive approach to education, especially introducing indigenous goals was not the first in colonial Africa, Ghana
then called Gold Coast
had a leg up in indigenous focused development, a staple of Awokoya's educational policies. In 1951, Nkrumah and the minister for education in Ghana had introduced an accelerated development
plan
for education, which included universal primary education without fees, similar to Awokoya's line of thought. Awokoya's approach to education was to be less derivative in structure and approach of knowledge dissemination but should introduce more indigenous methods and ideas. He also sort a less inhibiting educational program. He attacked what he felt was the primary motive of colonial education: to limit the minds of indigenous Africans in achievements in science and technology and to imbibe in them the benefits of agriculture
and farming. He felt, the result was leading to a dependency on imports, with little base for industrial
growth
and confining traditional Africans to the background in knowledge, knowledge production and production. Awokoya's policy was to make education a necessary catalyst for local production of goods, the development and acquiesce to modern science and technology and upliftment of the minds and souls of Africans. A major critical measure of the policy was also to produce indigenous graduates who can administer the various local, regional and central administrative organs and structures. Awokoya also challenged the dominance of male in education, at the time the ratio was about 4:1.
Most of the education policies of the era led to the doubling of major indices including budgetary allocations to education. Primary school enrollment, number of teachers and primary schools all showed significant growth.
His policies has had its share of critics. Many moaned and denounced the failure of the universal primary education. A lot of the criticism drew on attempts to nationalize the scheme which ended up costing more than 35% of the federal budget, increased unemployment and underemployment
and loosening of educational standards.
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
of education in the old Western Region
Western Region, Nigeria
The Western Region was a subdivision of the federation of Nigeria until 1967. Its capital was at Ibadan.It was established in the 1930s under British rule as a subdivision of the Southern Nigeria colony...
of Nigeria. He was one of the leading architects of a nationalistic policy to promote formal schooling in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
during the 1950s. He is credited and also discredited for the creation of the universal primary education in Nigeria.
Early life
Awokoya attended Yaba College of Higher Education as one of the first batch of students of the school. After completing his studies at Yaba, he chose a career in teaching. He was a teacher at St Andrews, College, OyoOyo, Nigeria
Oyo is a city in Oyo State, Nigeria, founded as the capital of the Oyo Kingdom in the 1830s and known to its people as 'New Oyo' to distinguish it from the former capital to the north, 'Old Oyo' ) which had been deserted as a result of rumors of war. Its inhabitants are mostly of the Yoruba people...
and also at Abeokuta Grammar School. After, the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he became the pioneer principal of Molusi College, Ijebu
Ijebu
Ijebu was a Yoruba kingdom in pre-colonial Nigeria. It formed around the fifteenth century. According to legend, its ruling dynasty was founded by Obanta of Ile-Ife...
-igbo. The College was a community
Community
The term community has two distinct meanings:*a group of interacting people, possibly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household...
sanctioned project but had opposition amongst officials in the education board. However, the community rallied around and opened the school in 1949. After Awokoya left to join the western Assembly, a new principal, Tai Solarin was chosen to lead the school.
In between, he went to Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and obtained a BSc at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
. While in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, he became enthralled with African students who saw education and nationalism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
as convulated ideas.
Politics
During the colonial era, a legislative amendmentLaw
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
by Governor John Macpherson, threw open avenues for indigenous rule by 1951.
Awokoya joined politics and by 1952, he was made a minister of education. In July 1952, his position on education became public when he presented a white paper
White paper
A white paper is an authoritative report or guide that helps solve a problem. White papers are used to educate readers and help people make decisions, and are often requested and used in politics, policy, business, and technical fields. In commercial use, the term has also come to refer to...
for free and compulsory universal primary education, the report was largely kowtowing to the lines of the Action Group's electoral promises. Today there are still questions about his role in drafting the policy. Though, his vital role as one of the four major originators of the educational policies is not disputed. Claims that he was the lead architect have led to some arguments proving otherwise.
Comprehensive education
Awokoya and the Action GroupAction group
In sociology and anthropology, an action group or task group is a group of people joined temporarily to accomplish some task or take part in some organized collective action....
's comprehensive approach to education, especially introducing indigenous goals was not the first in colonial Africa, Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
then called Gold Coast
Gold Coast (region)
The Gold Coast was the region of West Africa which is now the nation of Ghana. Early uses of the term refer literally to the coast and not the interior. It was not until the 19th century that the term came to refer to areas that are far from the coast...
had a leg up in indigenous focused development, a staple of Awokoya's educational policies. In 1951, Nkrumah and the minister for education in Ghana had introduced an accelerated development
Indigenous development
Indigenous Development refers to a variety of coordinated efforts, usually by first world organizations, to support progress in modernizing or bettering life for specific third world and fourth world populations....
plan
Plan
A plan is typically any diagram or list of steps with timing and resources, used to achieve an objective. See also strategy. It is commonly understood as a temporal set of intended actions, through which one expects to achieve a goal...
for education, which included universal primary education without fees, similar to Awokoya's line of thought. Awokoya's approach to education was to be less derivative in structure and approach of knowledge dissemination but should introduce more indigenous methods and ideas. He also sort a less inhibiting educational program. He attacked what he felt was the primary motive of colonial education: to limit the minds of indigenous Africans in achievements in science and technology and to imbibe in them the benefits of agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and farming. He felt, the result was leading to a dependency on imports, with little base for industrial
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
growth
Economic growth
In economics, economic growth is defined as the increasing capacity of the economy to satisfy the wants of goods and services of the members of society. Economic growth is enabled by increases in productivity, which lowers the inputs for a given amount of output. Lowered costs increase demand...
and confining traditional Africans to the background in knowledge, knowledge production and production. Awokoya's policy was to make education a necessary catalyst for local production of goods, the development and acquiesce to modern science and technology and upliftment of the minds and souls of Africans. A major critical measure of the policy was also to produce indigenous graduates who can administer the various local, regional and central administrative organs and structures. Awokoya also challenged the dominance of male in education, at the time the ratio was about 4:1.
Most of the education policies of the era led to the doubling of major indices including budgetary allocations to education. Primary school enrollment, number of teachers and primary schools all showed significant growth.
Beyond ministerial duties
He left his position as minister after arguments with Awolowo about education funding, Awokoya desired free UPE while Awolowo was skeptical. Also both men were fighting for recognition as originators of the universal primary education. He formed his own party, the Nigerian Peoples Party but was not well received by the public.His policies has had its share of critics. Many moaned and denounced the failure of the universal primary education. A lot of the criticism drew on attempts to nationalize the scheme which ended up costing more than 35% of the federal budget, increased unemployment and underemployment
Underemployment
Underemployment refers to an employment situation that is insufficient in some important way for the worker, relative to a standard. Examples include holding a part-time job despite desiring full-time work, and overqualification, where the employee has education, experience, or skills beyond the...
and loosening of educational standards.
External links
- http://www.soawokoyafoundation.org