Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s education programme was to reduce ignorance and illiteracy in the society where majority of the people did not know how to read and write.
These were the words of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, the governor of Lagos State, at the fourth Free Education Lecture organised recently by the Faculty of Education, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.
Held at the Oduduwa Hall of the institution, the lecture was titled ‘Protecting the Nigerian Child’s Right to Education; A Catalyst to Socio-Political Emancipation.’
“Education is a right of every child, but specialisation or professionalism is a choice. Every nation must give her children education,” Fashola said.
Governor Fashola, who received an award of excellence in education, explained that education and specialisation or professionalism are not the same.
The governor, while speaking at the event, said that the government of Western Region under the leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, propagated education in every nook and cranny of Western Region because he understood the power of education.
“The kind of education that Baba Awolowo propagated brought people out of ignorance and illiteracy to freedom.”
Governor Fashola also added that free education is possible, but the government and Nigeria will bear the costs. Other sectors’ budgets will be cut short and people will have to pay their taxes.
He challenged other well-meaning Nigerians to complement the efforts of the government in the development of education in the country.
Other guests at the event were the Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, who was represented by his deputy, Titi-Laoye Tomori; OAU Vice Chancellor, Professor Bamitale Omole; former deputy governor of Ekiti State, Professor Grace Adelabu; Dean Faculty of Education, Professor Phillip Jegede; Commissioner for Education in Lagos State, Olayinka Oladunjoye, and Mrs Funsho Adegbola, daughter of Chief Bola Ige, among others.
The representative of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Reverend Mrs Tola Oyediran, said: “Baba’s aim was to eradicate ignorance, and that was his mission back then.”
Earlier the vice-chancellor of the university, Professor Omole, said that it was the issue of education that charmed him to attend the programme.
“I have a lot of works to do on ground, but when they told me the topic for the event, most especially as it pertains to education, I have to be present.”
While pondering Chief Awolowo’s legacy and what remains of it today, Professor Jegede asked the gathering of students, lecturers, politicians and members of the public what Chief Obafemi Awolowo would be doing, if he was alive today.
Awards were also presented to the awardees.
Afees Lasisi
(OAU)