20 years after, Nigerians extol Michael Adekunle Ajasin’s virtues

The memories of the first civilian governor of old Ondo State, Michael Adekunle Ajasin, were yesterday relived at an event to extol his virtues.

The two-day event was organised in Ibadan by the Ajasin Foundation, in collaboration with the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences Education, University of Ibadan and Arts Education, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko.

The dignitaries at the event lauded Ajasin for formulating the free education policy of the defunct Western Region.

They included the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Ifedayo Abegunde.

Others were representatives of the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi and the Deputy Governor of Osun State, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori.

The leaders described the late Ajasin as a patriotic Nigerian whom the late Premier of the region, Obafemi Awolowo, saddled with the responsibility of formulating the education policy of the Action Group (AG).

According to them, Ajasin came out with the free education that put the Yoruba people on a better education pedestal than others from across the country.

The guest speaker, a Professor of History, Banji Akintoye, said when the AG was founded, Ajasin suggested the ideas of educational development, which he had nursed “since his university days in Britain.”

The Vice Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Prof. Eyitayo Ogunbodede, chaired the lecture with the theme, “Chief M.A. Ajasin-A teacher and statesman.”