Why education must not be left to govt alone, by Makinde, Babalakin

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and a former Chairman of the Governing Council of University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr. Wale Babalakin, have said the development of Nigeria’s education sector should not be left in the hands of government alone.

Makinde and Babalakin, who emphasised the need to reposition the sector to achieve sustainable development, made the call, at the weekend, during the 93rd anniversary of Government College Ibadan Old Boys Association (GCIOBA), Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The governor, who spoke while commissioning many projects in the school, said the government alone could not provide the entire infrastructure needed to revamp the education sector. He lauded the association for giving back to the society.

On his part, Babalakin, who commended the governor for reposing great confidence in the association, said all hands must be on desk to reposition the school.
He also urged them to scale up significantly and harness all their intellectual and financial resources to reposition the school.

He said: ‘’We remain grateful to His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde and his government for reposing such great confidence in GCIOBA and as we pledged during the inaugural ceremony, we will deliver on all assurances made to His Excellency.

‘’The ball is now in our court. We must harness all our intellectual and financial resources to reposition the college. All hands should be on deck.”

Babalakin was unanimously elected as the new president of the association for another term. Also, national merit awards were conferred on worthy members of the association who have distinguished themselves in their respective fields of endeavour. They include Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite; Prof. Olugbenga Ogunmoyela and Mr. Babajide Olatunde Agbeja, among others.

The event, according to the MoU, marked the handover of the school to GCIOBA for management, operation and development.