Nigerians canvass support for Adetona endowment fund in OOU

Worried by the dwindling education standard and its consequences on the quality of human resources, Nigerians have commended Oba Sikiru Adetona Professorial Chair in Governance in the Department of political science, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye Ogun State.

They said the initiative would improve the education sector in the country if other notable Nigerians keyed into it. The endowment fund, which was launched in Lagos last year is aimed at raising N1 billion to improve on research, develop the university community and encourage leaning.

Adetona personally launched the endowment fund with ₦25million donation and another ₦25 million by the Aafin Awujale of Ijebuland making a total of ₦50 million in March last year.

The monarch said there is the need to invest massively in education if the country hopes to take giant strides in the area of good governance “this could only be achieved through quality education, research, mentorship and community engagement.”

He said the initiative was aimed at attracting the best brains from across the world with a view to achieving a level that would impact positively on the country.

However, General Overseer, Trinity House Ministries International, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo and scholar, Prof. Ayo Olukotun, a Political Communication expert at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) urged the media to partner with the project.

Speaking at the fist year anniversary of the endowment fund in Ijebu Ode, Prof. Olukotun, who was the guest speaker, tasked the media to move beyond mere reporting the event but to further expand the crusade and reform the outlook in which they have been historically associated. Ighodalo said it is imperative of Nigerians to join hands to develop to the country, particularly the education sector, which he described as the best means of developing human resources through selfless sacrifices and putting the collective interest above personal interest.

The Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, who was represented by his spokesperson, Semiu Okanlawon said standard education is the bedrock of development in any nation and once it is deficient “every other sector would suffer.
While commending Adetona for the endowment, Aregbesola urged Nigerians to support the initiative in the interest of the country.

Other dignitaries that commended the endowment fund include, the Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu 1, former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, former Minority Leader in the Senate, Dr. Olorunimbe Mamora, former Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Sen. Gbenga Kaka and Mr. Abiodun Sobanjo.