Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has
charged the citizens not to lose hope in the
face of insecurity and socio-economic crises
in the land.
Obasanjo spoke on Monday shortly after
being conferred with the honourary
Doctoral Degree of Science during the
maiden convocation of Afe Babalola
University, Ado Ekiti.
The private university commenced
operation in January, 2010.
Obasanjo, who said the founder of the
University, Chief Afe Babalola, demonstrated
the fact that education was the most
veritable weapon for sustaining good
governance and democracy, said the hope
of a better tomorrow was not lost.
He said, “I know that those who are
thinking that Nigeria has no future will
today have a change of heart. This is
because one person, Chief Afe Babalola, has
been able to make a difference in the field
of education. This is an indication that hope
is not lost on Nigeria.
“The other time, I heard Chief Afe Babalola
saying that education is the best instrument
to fight poverty. But I want to add that it
remains the best instrument to sustain
good governance and democracy”.
He charged the graduating students to be
good ambassadors of the university.
“You have had a good beginning, having
graduated from a good university. But this
is not enough; you have to build on it. If
you don’t, the good beginning becomes
nothing,” he told the graduands.
Babalola said, “Throughout the three and
half years of the University, there was
nothing like public holiday in this school
because Nigerians are used to holiday.
“Students were not allowed to use
telephone because it is a distraction.
“We set a standard and everybody complies.
I marvelled when I heard that some people
in the National University Commission were
murmuring”.
Dignitaries at the event included former
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Alfa Belgore;
ex-Ekiti State governors, Segun Oni and Ayo
Fayose; the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi
Adeyemi; and deputy governor of Ekiti State,
Prof. Modupe Adelabu.