The love and undying passion of the late sage and first Premier of the defunct Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, towards free and affordable education were the major inspirations behind the free education policy in Niger State, Governor Babangida Aliyu has said.
The governor also praised the legal luminary, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), likening him to Awolowo for his love for education.
He noted that the love Babalola has for education spurred him to establish the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD).
Aliyu said free education is possible nationwide if governments at all levels can check excesses and if true federalism could be adopted instead of the present defective federal system the country operates.
The governor spoke at the weekend when he chaired the inauguration of the new leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.
ABUAD won the award of the Most Progressive, Dynamic and Fastest Growing University in Nigeria.
The university was the only higher institution that won an award at the event.
Aliyu said he was impressed that ABUAD is the only university in Nigeria registered as a not-for-profit institution, noting that this was borne out of Babalola’s generosity and determination to offer quality education to Nigerians without aiming at profit.
The governor also said the free tuition, which he enjoyed from primary up to tertiary level, was another reason he introduced free education in Niger State.
Aliyu said the seed of affordable education, which the late Awolowo planted in his lifetime, has empowered and liberated the Southwest from material and intellectual poverty.
He said: “I’ve always respected our founding father, Chief Awolowo, when he introduced free education policy in the then Western Region. Chief Awolowo foresaw education as the future. This was why he was so passionate about free education for his people, and he implemented it to the core. And his region, the Southwest, is better for it today.
“I’m also impressed with what Babalola is doing in ABUAD. It shows commitment and determination on his part to give quality education. I also understand that ABUAD was established as a not-for-profit institution…”
Culled from www.thenationonlineng.net