Why education remains our biggest investment —Aregbesola

GOVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, has explained that the need to produce the total man who is useful to his society informed the rationale behind his administration’s huge investment in education in the state.

The governor said whatever is invested in education is for the future,adding that his government had embarked on massive construction of classrooms, reforms of the schools’ system, provision of other modern learning tools and others for the good of the state’s future.

Speaking at the public presentation of a book entitled: The Heritage of Islam in Nigeria: Essays in Memory of Dr Dawood Adekilekun Tijani on Saturday in Ede, Aregbesola said scholarship scheme was effective to give assess to students, recalling that the huge investment in education in the defunct Western region by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo culminated in the Western part of Nigeria having the edge it had over other parts of the country.

Aregbesola, who was represented by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr Semiu Okanlawon, said, “Scholarship does not die. Erudition does not perish and handwork does not fade away.”

The governor said the late scholar, Dawood Adekilekun Tijani, who was being honored with the book of essays on Saturday had invested in education, adding that this is why he is still being celebrated many years after he had departed.

“Through scholarships, late Dr Adekilekun Tijani was able to touch lives. Those who were touched by his investment in education are today touching other lives. The lesson here for us today is that we should all endeavour to touch lives and education remains the best way to do this,” Aregbesola said

The governor said that a man taken out of ignorance has been given his weapon against poverty, hence the reason for his government’s heavy investment in education.

He said, “I must state that this is the major reason that functional education remains our biggest investment. A man that is knowledgeable is a man that is wealthy, and in a knowledge-based society and economy that we are advocating, functional education is the only way to be relevant and be in position to play a role.

Others present at the public presentation included: The Timi of Ede, Oba Muniru Adesola Laval, former governor of the state and senator representing Osun West senatorial district, Isiaka Adeleke, who was represented by Alhaji Olumide Laval, Speaker House of Assembly, Najeem Salam, who was represented by his media aide, Goke Butika, National Commissioner Public Complaints Commission, Professor Aderemi Abubakre, Vice Chancellor, Ladoke Akintola University of Science and Technology, Professor Adenine Gbadegesin, former Commissioner for Special Duties and Regional Integration, Dr Bashir Ajibola.