Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has described the people of the state as among the most educated in Nigeria, saying they possess the capacity to distinguish between leaders who lie and those genuinely committed to public service.

The governor said an enlightened populace is empowered by knowledge and therefore stronger than those who rely on brute force to assert authority.

Governor Adeleke made the remarks on Thursday at the commissioning of Minaret University, Ikirun, a newly established faith-based private university in Osun State.

“With the birth of this university, Osun has further strengthened its national leadership position as a centre of learning and scholarship,” the governor said.

Unveiling the institution, Adeleke noted that Osun, as one of the most literate states in the country, is populated by an active citizenry capable of resisting tyranny, impunity and lawlessness.

“The devotion of our people to education accounts for the South-West being the most literate region in the federation. A well-read population is empowered with knowledge and is therefore stronger than those wielding brute force as a means of existence,” he said.

He traced the region’s educational legacy to the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who designed the old Western Region to advance national development through access to education. Adeleke added that the legacy was expanded during the administration of the late Chief Bola Ige through the free education programme and further consolidated in Osun State.

“An educated populace cannot be deceived. They are not victims of fake news because they verify facts. They appreciate good leaders and reject anti-people governance. On a daily basis, they assess their leaders and can clearly identify liars from those genuinely serving the state,” the governor stated.

Governor Adeleke congratulated the founders and management of Minaret University and directed the Commissioner for Education to review their requests for possible government support.

Earlier, the Chancellor and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Minaret University, Alhaji Alatoye Folorunso Azeez, described the inauguration of the campus as the fulfilment of a vision nurtured through faith, perseverance and collective sacrifice.

According to him, the idea for Minaret University emerged in 2013 following a resolution at the Majlis Shoara, the National Consultative Assembly of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at of Nigeria, under the leadership of the then Amir, Professor Mashuud Adenrele Fashola, a Professor of Development Economics.

“The proposal was subsequently presented to and graciously approved by the Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (atba),” Azeez said.

While announcing Professor Abdur-Rahman Oladele Abdullah as the pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Azeez urged staff, students and other stakeholders to embrace discipline, pursue excellence and uphold the core values upon which Minaret University is founded.