• Woman, 77, bags UNILAG degree
Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), insists that academics must return to the school system and that universities must be driven by merit.

During the 50th convocation of UNILAG yesterday, he assured that no effort must be spared in improving education, noting that it’s time to create an environment that would attract the best scholars to universities.

Enhancing the remuneration of teachers can help the institution achieve its goal, he noted.

Expressing his belief that the most important area in any nation’s development is quality of its education, Babalakin recalled when UNILAG was full of scholars who made it stand out.

“We must put an end to those who come here because they have no other option. This is a citadel of learning and we must achieve this goal. It will be tough and there will be resistance, but that is the only way out,” he said.

The lawyer expressed conviction that the President Muhammadu Buhari government intends to reposition education, adding that the minister of education had reiterated the position on many occasions.

“When education was facing a challenge in England, Prime Minister Tony Blair created a policy for refocusing education by enhancing remuneration in such a way that teaching became one of the most financially attractive propositions,” he said, urging the graduating students to join the campaign to reposition education and become leaders of thought.

At the occasion, a 77- year-old woman, Bridget Okonji, was the cynosure of all eyes, as she was among the 12,843 graduating students.

Okonji, who studied Guidance and Counselling from the Faculty of Education, was among the 2017 set.