Proprietor of Afe Babalola University, Ado Akiti, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to consider former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Attahiru Jega for a Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) award for organizing and conducting the 2015 elections.
According to him, national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OFR) is “too small” for the former electoral commission boss.
He made the call yesterday at the university’s third convocation ceremony in Ado Ekiti.
Babalola recalled that Jega encouraged him to establish the university.
Speaking, Governor Fayose, who described Afe Babalola as the largest employer of labour after the state government, said: “Education is more about life than wealth.
“Aside government, Afe Babalola is the largest employer of labour in Ekiti and that is why my government wants to build an airstrip in Ado Ekiti that would become a full-fledged airport later to help in the expansion of this university.
“I am committed to this project and there is no going back on that”.
Lamenting the number of private universities in the country, the governor said compared to other states, Ekiti should have more private universities.
“There are 12 private universities in Ogun, six in Osun, six in Lagos, four in Ondo and one in Ekiti, which is the Afe Babalola University. So, I will do everything to make this university survive”.
In his remark, Jega urged the federal and state governments to emulate ABUAD’s innovation to help the future of the country.
“Nigeria’s vision in education is gradually being achieved through Afe Babalola University. There is need to set a standard for the growth of education in this country.
“One cannot de emphasize the character of a graduate. Learning and character must go together and when these virtues are exhibited out there, it will surely contribute to the development of our country”.
736 students graduated at the convocation out of which 65 bagged First Class, 39 with Second Class Upper, 258 with Second Class Lower and 74 with Pass degrees.
At the convocation, Jega bagged an honorary Doctor of Public Administration, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, was conferred with the honorary Doctor of Letters, former ICPC Chairman, Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, was conferred with the Doctor of Public Administration and Bishop Matthew Kukah bagged Doctor of Letters.
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the university, Prof. Iyorwuese Hagher, advised that corruption would have to be totally uprooted in the education sector.
“A corrupt educational system will produce fake professionals and an ill-equipped workforce. This is why we call on the federal government to look into all facets of corruption in the education sector.
“This could mean directing the amendment of the EFCC Act to investigate all aspects to address anti-corruption strategies and allow proper investigation of corruption in the sector and proffer effective remedies for victims,”he said.
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