06/09/2025
Drain: How Okun People are Losing 100 Million Naira Yearly on Educational Tourism
To put this population into perspective, Cyprus has a population of just over 1.2 million people, The Okun people are a Yoruba sub-group primarily found in Kogi State, Nigeria. With a population of approximately 1.5 million people, the Okun people are a significant ethnic group in Nigeria, making the Okun people a larger group in comparison. Despite their large population, however, the Okun people have faced significant challenges, particularly when it comes to education and economic development.
One issue that has been of great concern to the Okun people is the significant amount of money that is being spent on educational tourism in nearby states. Every year, Okun citizens spend approximately 100 million Naira on educational tourism mostly in Ekiti, Kwara, Ondo, Niger, and Abuja. This represents a significant drain on the resources of the Okun people, as this money could be better used to support educational development within their own community institutions.
Though the region only boast of college of education technical and school of nursing and midwifery but seriously? In 21st century that's not competitive enough. The inadequacies of those institutions is a topic for another time.
The lack of educational institutions in the Okun region is a major challenge that has contributed to the need for educational tourism. There are currently no universities, polytechnics, or colleges of education in the area, which means that students must travel to other states to pursue higher education not until recent time Okun indigent don't enjoy schooling in State own university and polytechnics.
This situation is not sustainable, and it is essential that the resources of the Okun people be harnessed to support the development of educational institutions within the region. The establishment of universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education in the Okun region would not only provide better educational opportunities for local students but would also help to retain the financial resources within the region.
The Okun people have a rich cultural heritage and a long history of resilience in the face of adversity. With the right support and investment, the Okun people have the potential to achieve great things and contribute significantly to the economic and social development of Nigeria. It is imperative that the resources of the Okun people be exploited for the prosperity of the region, and this can only be achieved through the establishment of institutions that support education and training within the community
By Femi Falohun
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ONAV Media
