The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali has said that the solid education foundation put in place by the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, helped to put the old Western Region and its people ahead of other regions of the the federation till the present time.
The university don therefore challenged the incoming federal government to emulate the vision of the late sage by giving education for all a priority, irrespective of tribe or religion.
Speaking yesterday on the theme of the programme, “Connecting the Past with the Present for a Rewarding Future in Nigeria Education System”, at the annual Back to School programme of the Nigeria Universities Education Students’ Association (NUESA) of the University of Ilorin held in honour of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the vice chancellor said the Back to School programme of the school was aimed to bring, to the fore, the importance of education to national development and fortunes, adding that no Nigerian child, be it boy or girl, should be excluded from getting a quality western education.
Professor Ambali also pointed out that for any nation to be great, its citizens must be educated.
Represented at the event by the Dean, Faculty of Education of the university, Dr. Alfred Akinbo Adegoke, the vice chancellor said that Chief Awolowo stood for provision of educational opportunity for all Nigerians.
Professor Ambali, who lamented neglect of public elementary and secondary schools in the country by successive governments in the country, said that private schools had taken over, adding that elementary and secondary school education should be revived to achieve solid education foundation.
According to him,”Every child must be given an opportunity to good and quality western education. And that’s what Chief Obafemi Awolowo stood for. He was the man who stood for education for all. One of the pillars of his philosophy, one of the visions he had, was to make education free for every child. And today, many of us are beneficiaries of free education that Chief Obafemi Awolowo started in those days.
“In all things he made, he was able to put the Western Region ahead because of the solid foundation of education that he laid for this country. Happily, there is a new government coming on board to build on the philosophy and vision of the sage because education is the foundation. For any nation to become a great nation, or to take her place in the comity of nations, for any nation to make a significant impact, that nation must have its citizens well educated. That’s the cardinal philosophy that Chief Awolowo stood for.
“We are taking ourselves back to school, because it is the elementary schools that are neglect. I went to a public school while growing up. But today, public schools are being neglected that no parents want to send their children to public schools. The private schools have taken over. This is very very sad. We need to get back to the roots. Government needs to overhaul educational system and go back to elementary school because that’s the foundation. Government needs to spend money to train teachers and make sure that teachers are well paid. Government needs to make sure that the foundation of our education is solid. That’s why we are saying back to school today. And that’s why we are remebering issues of our education system, as you dress in your old school uniform, to remind us of the memories and the foundation which your elementary and secondary school had laid for you.
“It’s our prayer that the Back to School programme and the vision of NUESA will be something that will move forward as a country and we hope the new government will ensure that education takes its pride of place. And that education gets proper funding, teachers paid promptly and proper infrastructure is put in place, particularly at the elementary and secondary school level”, he said.
Also speaking, the Director of Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Chief Dr. (Mrs.) Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu, who was represented by Dean, Business School of Babcork University, Professor Ayandiji Aina, said that the Foundation believed that every child deserves right to quality education, adding that he was ready to partner with organisations that would promote education in the country.
Dr. Awolowo also frowned at over-prioritisation of education in the country, saying that it was one of the factors for high crime rate among youth, emphasising that the foundation encourages and promotes decency among Nigerian youth.
Also in his lecture in honour of chief Awolowo and Aare Afe Babalola, a professor in the department of History and International Studies in Unilorin, R. A. Olaoye, said, “one cardinal philosophy of the Obafemi Awolowo foundation is to preserve and nurture the legacy of education of the late sagwe to fruition. In this regard, the hope of a rewarding education system in future is not lost. In the same vein, the gigantic stride of Chief Afe Babalola, in the establishement of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, is an indication that there will be light at the end of the tunnel”.
Professor Olaoye, who said the government should “go back to the roots, pick up the pieces and review the policy for rewarding system of education in Nigeria”, added that the emphasis today was on Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
“The world is also in the direction of knowldege-based economy. In all of these, the use of computer and other ICT facilities would rule the future world of education not only in Nigeria but elsewhere in the world”, he said
No comments:
Post a Comment