Integrity In Nigerian Education: Otunba Jare Ayo-Martins Challenges Tutorial Operators, Government, Media At ATSO Inauguration

Akahi News gathered that the General Manager of Uniq FM Ilesa, Otunba Jare Ayo-Martins, has delivered a powerful inaugural lecture on the state of integrity in Nigerian education. Speaking on the topic Integrity in Nigerian Education: The Roles of Tutorial Operators, Government and Media Houses, he did not shy away from uncomfortable truths.

The lecture took place on Thursday, April 30, 2026, during the Association of Tutorial School Operators inauguration of newly elected National and State Executive Members in Ile-Ife. The audience, made up largely of tutorial school operators from across the federation, listened in rapt attention as he dissected a crisis that has festered for decades.

“What happens when certificates are earned not through hard work, but through shortcuts and compromise?” he asked. The question was rhetorical, but the answer was written on every face in the room.

‘Miracle Centres And Results At All Costs Have Weakened Our Educational System’

Otunba Ayo-Martins painted an unmistakable picture of decline. He spoke of examination malpractice, the proliferation of so-called “miracle centres,” and a growing culture that demands “results at all costs.” These phenomena, he argued, have severely weakened the credibility of Nigeria’s educational architecture.

“When integrity is lost in education, it does not end in the classroom,” he warned. “It follows us into our workplaces, our leadership, and our national development.”

But he refused to end on a note of despair. “This is not a problem without a solution,” he declared with conviction. The responsibility to restore integrity, he said, rests on three key pillars: tutorial schools, the government, and the media.

Akahi News learnt that his words resonated deeply with many in attendance, particularly those who have watched the tutorial school sector drift from its original purpose.

To Tutorial Operators: Return To The Original Vision

The Uniq FM boss reminded his audience that tutorial centres were established to support learning — to help students grasp difficult subjects and prepare thoroughly for examinations. He acknowledged that many still uphold this noble purpose. But he did not stop there.

“Sadly, some have deviated from this path. Instead of promoting knowledge, they promote shortcuts. Instead of building character, they enable compromise.”

His message to such operators was unambiguous: This must change.

He urged tutorial schools to return to their core mission, to prioritise genuine understanding over mere examination success, and to employ only qualified and ethical teachers. They must reject all forms of malpractice and instil discipline and integrity in their students. “They must become centres of excellence, not centres of exploitation,” he said.

It is not a child’s play to stand before an association of tutorial operators and call out the bad eggs among them. But Otunba Ayo-Martins did exactly that — with courage, clarity, and an evident love for the profession.

To Government: Decisive Action, Not Empty Promises

Turning his attention to the government, the General Manager was equally forthright. He noted that the government carries the greatest responsibility in shaping the educational system. Policies, regulations, funding, and enforcement all lie within its purview.

“Yet, weak oversight and inconsistent enforcement have allowed unethical practices to thrive,” he said. The observation drew quiet murmurs of agreement from the audience.

To restore integrity, he called on the government to act decisively. It must strengthen regulations and ensure that both schools and tutorial centres operate within clear ethical boundaries. It must enforce strict penalties for examination malpractice — without fear or favour. It must also invest in education by improving infrastructure, supporting teachers, and leveraging technology to reduce opportunities for fraud.

“When the system is strong, integrity becomes easier to uphold,” he concluded.

Akahi News had earlier reported that examination malpractice has evolved into a sophisticated underground economy. Otunba Ayo-Martins was essentially calling for that economy to be dismantled from the top down.

To The Media: Speak With Courage, Investigate With Rigour

The media, he said, cannot escape its own accountability. “The media is the voice of the people and the watchdog of society. It has the power to expose wrongdoing, to inform the public, and to shape national values.”

When the media shines a light on malpractice, he argued, it sends an unmistakable message that dishonesty will not be hidden. When it celebrates success built on hard work, it inspires a new generation to choose the right path.

“The media must continue to educate, to investigate, and to hold all stakeholders accountable.”

That segment of the speech was particularly striking. The media, after all, has sometimes been complicit — accepting paid advertisements from “miracle centres” and failing to investigate the rot. Otunba Ayo-Martins was calling out his own industry. That is the mark of a man who values truth over comfort.

The Choice: A Generation Of Shortcuts Or A Generation Of Substance?

Ladies and gentlemen, he said, integrity in education is not merely an academic issue. It is a national priority. The quality of our graduates, the strength of our workforce, and the future of our country depend on it.

“If we fail to act, we risk raising a generation that values shortcuts over substance. But if we succeed, we will build a system that produces not only intelligent minds but also upright citizens.”

The choice, he declared, is ours.

He ended with a charge that echoed through the hall and will likely reverberate far beyond it: “Let tutorial schools teach with honesty. Let the government lead with strength and fairness. Let the media speak with courage and truth. And together, let us restore integrity in Nigerian education.”

Here is the philosophical reflection that lingers after the applause fades: A certificate obtained through fraud is not an achievement. It is a lie laminated in plastic. And when a nation fills its offices with people whose certificates are lies, the nation itself becomes a lie. Otunba Jare Ayo-Martins reminded everyone in that room — and everyone who will read this speech — that Nigeria cannot afford to be a lie. The time to restore integrity is now. Not tomorrow. Not next session. Now.

Key Summary Box: What Otunba Jare Ayo-Martins Told ATSO In Ile-Ife

• The Event: 2026 ATSO Inauguration of newly elected National and State Executive Members, Ile-Ife, Thursday, April 30, 2026.

• The Speaker: Otunba Jare Ayo-Martins, General Manager of Uniq FM Ilesa.

• The Topic: “Integrity in Nigerian Education: The Roles of Tutorial Operators, Government and Media Houses.”

• The Diagnosis: Examination malpractice, “miracle centres,” and “results at all costs” have weakened the credibility of Nigeria’s educational system. Loss of integrity in education follows graduates into workplaces, leadership, and national development.

• To Tutorial Operators: Return to genuine learning. Employ qualified, ethical teachers. Reject all malpractice. Become centres of excellence, not exploitation.

• To Government: Strengthen regulations. Enforce strict penalties without fear or favour. Invest in infrastructure, teachers, and technology to reduce fraud opportunities.

• To the Media: Act as watchdog. Expose wrongdoing. Celebrate hard-earned success. Educate, investigate, and hold all stakeholders accountable.

• The Warning: “If we fail to act, we risk raising a generation that values shortcuts over substance.”

• The Charge: Tutorial schools must teach with honesty. Government must lead with strength and fairness. Media must speak with courage and truth. Together, restore integrity in Nigerian education.

• Why This Matters: The quality of graduates determines the quality of the workforce. The quality of the workforce determines the future of the nation. When certificates are bought rather than earned, every Nigerian pays the price.

— Akahi News commends Otunba Jare Ayo-Martins for this courageous and timely address. The full speech has been archived on Akahi News. Read it. Share it. Act on it.