••• I dedicate this to Ooni of Ife, 450,000 pupils of Osun schools – Kolawole says
The Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife has awarded the permanent secretary, State Universal Basic Education Board, (SUBEB), State of Osun, Alhaji Fatai Adesina Kolawole, with Award of Excellence.
The award which was bestowed on him by the faculty of social sciences of the university at a distinguished guest lecture titled “The place of social sciences and the humanities in Nigeria’s National Development” held on Wednesday at the magnificent Oduduwa hall of the institution had Professor Jacob Kehinde Olupona, a professor of African American Studies, Harvard University, the United States of America, as guest speaker.
In attendance was the Governor of the State of Osun, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, who was also honoured, ably represented by his Special Adviser on Education, Hon. Jamiu Olawumi, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, who was represented by his deputy vice-chancellor academic, Prof. A.S. Bamire, the Dean Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Peter O. Ogunsuyigbe, traditional rulers across the State, professors, senior academia, guests from all walks of life and students of the institution.
In his acceptance speech, Alhaji Kolawole said he considered it a rare privilege for being honoured with some of the political leaders in the southwest including the Governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola, who he described as his mentor and political leader.
He expressed his deep conviction that a lot has been achieved in the school’s infrastructure and renewal programme in that State but didn’t expect it to attract much attention especially from a reputable and highly revered university like OAU as he considers it a mere service to the State.
“As an Educationist and top Bureaucrat who has been at the helm of affairs of a critical sector of the State Educational Industry in the last few years, I know a lot has been achieved with respect to this State’s Schools Infrastructure renewal programme. But even then, I thought all the achievements recorded were mere service to our dear State which ordinarily should not attract much attention from any organistion, especially in the academia and particularly in the highly revered Obafemi Awolowo University”
“Apart from being an Alumnus of this great Citadel of Learning, I am aware that an array of intellectual gurus and egg-heads of international repute abound in the Faculty of Social Sciences. Hence, such awards cannot be for personal glorification but a genuine recognition of excellence in service delivery in our State, the fulfillment of the vision of egalitarianism and the accomplishment of human capital development”
Kolawole gave all the credit in the education sector in the State to Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, former Governor of the State and the current helmsman, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, who he said built an enduring platform for the continued growth and development of Basic Education in the State.
“It is germane to state that within the last ten (10) years, the State of Osun’s Political Leaders has built an enduring platform for the continued growth and development of Basic Education in the State. Their visionary efforts have, among others, ranging from Physical Infrastructure and Regular Teachers Professional Development activities to deepened Quality Assurance Measures in all schools”
“Their visionary efforts have, among others, ranging from Physical Infrastructure and Regular Teachers Professional Development activities to deepened Quality Assurance Measures in all schools. These were all geared towards ensuring that our products who form the major intakes of the other higher levels of education are up to the expected standard in academic pursuits, character, and cultural consciousness”
“I want to specially appreciate the two helmsmen whom God has used to change the face of education and raise the bar of accomplishment in both Basic and post-Basic Education in the State within the last ten years. First was the enigmatic Former Governor and the Present Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola (The Ogbeni of our time) for the enduring foundation laid in the Education Sector, and secondly, the Present Governor, Alhaji Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola who has not only continued to build on the foundation laid but also saw the imperative of making adjustments where necessary in line with the demands of the citizenry”
He, however, dedicated the award to over four hundred and fifty thousand students of elementary and middle schools including the diligent teachers. While the grassroots development side of the award was dedicated to the Ooni of ife, Adeyeye Enitan, Ogunwusi, the second, who he described as a peace ambassador for preaching and working hard to unite and foster harmonious relationships in Yoruba land and beyond.
While stressing the importance of peace as a precursor to the uneven development of any society, the Osun SUBEB PS concluded that “without peace there won’t be any development.”
