The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has advocated the need for a conducive environment and essential facilities to facilitate learning in educational institutions.

Adams gave the charge in his keynote address at the First Reunion and Set 38th anniversary of the Alumni of Ansar-Ud-Deen Secondary School, Surulere (AUDSS 87/88 GOLD), Lagos.

The Aare Ona Kakanfo, who spoke on the theme, “Back to our root, from seed to legacy – how far we have grown,” called on government at various levels to replicate what the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN)-led government of Lateef Jakande did in Lagos State, by encouraging everyone to get basic education through its free education initiative.

Adams recalled how the state government gave all students free textbooks, notebooks and mathematical sets on resumption every term.

He also recalled how public pipe-borne water taps were available in strategic locations along streets at that time, ensuring that students had water to drink and refresh themselves while trekking long distances from school to their homes.

“If any student had health concerns, he/she would complain to the teachers, and such student would be referred to the health centre. He or she would be given priority treatment free of charge.

“I also remember the time we spent together during the Principal Cup’s competitions, Inter-Secondary Football competitions and Inter-House Sports. It used to be beautiful days when schools discovered talents through those competitions,” he said.

He said that those competitions served as good hunting grounds where talents were discovered for the national teams and other national competitions, such as the African Cup of Nations, Athletics Championships and others.

He stressed that the solid foundation and free education sponsored by the government at that time is what has ensured that most of his classmates became great medical doctors, respected legal luminaries, seasoned engineers, chartered accountants and accomplished professionals in various fields of endeavour.