In his lecture, Ayeni asserted that ‘turning educational system around in Nigeria, tertiary institutions need to develop community focused curricula that respond to community needs’. He recalled that Nigerian Education system has underperformed miserably judging by the rate of unemployment the Nigerian youths face after graduation.
The dual citizen of both Nigeria and United States of America compared the Nigeria and U.S.A’s system of education and noted that unlike Americans, the element of purpose of education is not ingrained in the mind of Nigerian students from the get go as most students study mainly because of their parents’ pressure.

Professor Albert Ayeni urged Nigerian youths to adopt creativity, become more entrepreneurial and build leadership qualities that would enable them convert problems to opportunities rather joining the teeming population of job seekers, which, obviously, is not available.
Ayeni stated that RUTGERS University has offered to partner with Osun State University in the areas of curriculum development that would draw-up templates for need serving and impactful curricula in various disciplines.

He urged the Nigerian institutions to adopt the purpose driven and community engaging education concept and inject the required resources needed for developing appropriate curricula for their educational system so that the country can take her rightful position as giant of Africa.
The Lecture, which was the 10th Series of its kind, drew audience from outside the University community and across the six Campuses of the University. Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Visitor and Governor, State of Osun was the Guest of Honour while the Lecture was chaired by Her Excellemncy, Iyaafin Titi Laoye-Tomori, the Deputy Governor. Other dignitaries at the 2017 University Lecture includes, the Royalty – Olufi of Gbogan, His Royal Highness, Oba (Dr) Adetoyese Oyeniyi Odugbemi, Vice Chancellors, Deputy Vice Chancellors of sister universities in Osun State including Professor Sola Fajana, of Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), Ikeji Arakeji, Professor Diran Famurewa, Vice Chancellor, Kings University, Odeomu, Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration ,Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Rectors of Polytechnics &Colleges of Technology, Provosts of Colleges of Education in the State. Principals, teachers and students of some secondary schools in the State including Ataoja School of Science, Osogbo.