As the Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair at the University of Texas at Austin, Prof Falola challenged the existing educational framework, contending that the colonial roots of the African educational system hinder its capacity for meaningful development. He highlighted the post-independence continuation of educational structures designed to serve the economic and political interests of European countries.

The professor emphasized the need for a comprehensive decolonization process, asserting that the information, knowledge, and ideas imparted through a system rooted in colonial ideology must be reexamined. Prof Falola acknowledged previous discussions and efforts aimed at decolonizing African education, including the Afrikology theory challenging Western epistemologies. However, he noted that these initiatives have yet to elevate the continent to global prominence.

Referencing the minimum academic benchmarks (BMAS and CCMAS) set by the National Universities Commission (NUC) for Nigerian universities in 2004 and 2023 respectively, Prof Falola acknowledged their relevance but critiqued their alignment with neoliberal standards in Nigerian education. He urged the NUC to grant universities more autonomy in designing curricula based on their unique contexts.

Additionally, Prof Falola advocated for fair compensation for university workers, proposing that salaries should be adjusted based on the cost of living in their respective locations. He emphasized that uniform salaries for workers on the same grade level nationwide are not obligatory.

In a specific call to UNILAG, the professor urged the institution to introduce courses leading to degrees in Lagoon and Sea Economies. He proposed the establishment of a center dedicated to creative economies and African vocabulary development and enlightenment bank. Prof Falola concluded by asserting that the decolonization of African education holds the key to meaningful transformation in Nigeria and across the continent, emphasizing the urgency of scaling up this crucial process.