Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has urged Federal, State and local governments “to do more in the area of employment”.
“If there is no job for the unemployed to feed themselves and also to contribute to the development of the country then, we will all be sitting on gun powder,” Obasanjo warned at the 10th anniversary and 6th and 7th convocation ceremonies of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, Ijebu Ode.
Obasanjo asserted that if University education was not for development then, it was not serving any useful purpose. According to him, education is a meal ticket for anybody that has it, adding that it is also a means of breaking poverty circle.
“I believe in lifelong education. Nobody should stop learning until he or she dies,” he advised.
Obasanjo who was given an Honourary Doctorate of Education in Political Science by the university said that he accepted the award because of the personality the school was named after, whom he noted was one of the great and best educationist the country ever have.
“I don’t indulge in accepting Honourary award not even in Best University of Technology. It became a must because of the personality which the University was named after. He is one of the best educationists this country ever have, then his memory should remain real with everybody.”
Obasanjo, however, told the audience that he was honoured to be honoured with Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, insisting “Anywhere mama is been honoured, we must join hand to to honour her”.
Mama HID was honoured with Honourary Doctorate in Business Education while Aliko Dangote was conferred with Doctorate in Science and Business Education. HID Awolowo’s daughter, Mrs Tola Adeniran received the award on behalf of her mother.
Obasanjo further said he received the award because: “This is the first University of Education and any agency of education must be accorded with honour. The idea came 12 years when I am still in the helms of affairs that we have University of Agriculture then why can’t we have University of Education then Ogun State took the advantage of it to establish it”.
He thanked Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun for sustaining the legacy.
In his response, Amosun said: “No doubt, this year’s convocation ceremony, which marks the successful completion of another academic session is a continued demonstration of commitment to the production of qualified teaching personnel for our education system”.
“Let me enjoin you all that a University where ideas and ideals are always traded can never be static in outlook and in conduct. It must be dynamic always, interfacing and responding to its environment and all the challenges of its operating milieu. Any University that is worth its name must be a repository of knowledge and consistently seek out new information that will keep its well of knowledge fresh.”
“You are all expected to use your collective wisdom, knowledge, ability and exposure to sustain and promote the ideals of this great institution.”
“I am confident that the Management, Staff and Students of this great University will, despite the euphoria of this occasion, pause for this self-assessment,” he affirmed.
He disclosed that the 12 First Class students would be given automatic employment by the State government.
