In a bid to address the moral decline and lack of spiritual guidance in the educational system, Engineer Akeem Olatunji, the Chairman of Oluyole Local Government Area in Oyo State, has advocated for a mandatory return of religious education.
He proposed that both Islamic Religious Studies (IRS) and Christian Religious Studies (CRS) be fully reinstated across Nigeria’s primary and secondary schools.
The council boss shared these views on Sunday, the 28th of December, 2025, during the 57th anniversary and awards ceremony of the Bari College of Arabic and Islamic Studies in Ibadan.
The high-profile event drew several prominent Islamic scholars and dignitaries, including the Grand Mufti and Alfa Agba of Ibadanland, Dr. Abdul-Baari Adetunji, alongside the Chief Imams of Igannaland and Ikirunland, and various academic and religious leaders.
Engineer Olatunji expressed concern over the “extinction” of religious subjects in public institutions, noting a critical shortage of qualified teachers for these disciplines. He argued that the absence of such training contributes to the difficulty of producing principled leadership.
According to Olatunji: “In the past, we had Islamic Religious Studies and Christian Religious Studies in our schools, but most schools no longer have them. These subjects are now almost extinct. These are the areas where we raise God-fearing leaders. “So, we need to re-introduce Islamic Religious Studies and Christian Religious Studies from the primary school level through to secondary school. Most schools do not have IRS and CRS now. What we need is to re-introduce them in our primary and secondary schools.”
Addressing the global perception of Islam, the Chairman was firm in separating the faith from the violent actions of criminals. He emphasized that true practitioners of the faith do not subscribe to extremism or banditry.
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Olatunji stated: “Islam has nothing to do with banditry, terrorism, or other criminal activities. Those engaging in such acts are not followers of the principles of Islam as explained by Prophet Muhammad (SAW). “They are not even Muslims; the majority do not even practice Islam. We should, as much as possible, ensure that public schools have training sessions to teach religious studies.”
The call for educational reform was echoed by the Proprietor of the college, Dr. Adetunji, who urged the government to prioritize the employment of teachers specializing in Arabic and Islamic Studies.
The gathering served as a platform to remind the public that religious education is a vital tool for social engineering and the development of a peaceful, law-abiding citizenry.