EDUCATION is generally regarded as the bedrock of development in any nation. A nation where the larger part of the population is illiterate will undoubtedly continue to live below its potentialies. It is in the light of this that an educational foundation, Sola Saraki Educational Foundation (SSEF), has been unveiled in memory of the late philanthropist and political icon in Kwara State, Dr. Olusola Saraki, popularly called Oloye.
The objectives of the Foundation, according to Alhaji Ladi Hassan, who is the Convener and Secretary to the Board of Trustees of the foundation, are five and are largely informed by the professional background and training of the late politician.
“Given that Oloye, as fondly called by his people, was a trained physician in orthodox medicine, the foundation has established five main objectives: to sponsor indigent medical students pursuing MBBS in Nigerian universities by giving them full scholarship to cover the period of their studies; endowment of academic chairs at Faculty of Medicine in some Nigerian universities and University of London where Dr. Saraki obtained his MBBS Degree in 1962; the foundation will fund the pursuit of medical research in different or specialised fields of medicine, sponsor the medical and surgical correction of congenital health diseases and in the long run, the foundation will establish a state-of-the-art cardio-vascular hospital to handle heart surgery and heart-related diseases,” Alhaji Hassan stated.
Tracing the evolution of the foundation, Hassan said it was in response to a directive by Oloye’s, son, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who then as governor of Kwara State, directed political office holders to embark on empowerment projects for their constituents. Many went out to buy physical items, such as hair dryers, pepper grinding machines, refrigerators, power generators, and others items aimed at setting up the people on small scale businesses for self sustenance. But many of the beneficiaries sold those items in the open market.
“For this reason, amongst others, I felt I should do something different and still achieve the desired or targeted objective,” he recalled at the launch of the foundation which drew the presence of several dignitaries, including the state governor, AbdulFattah Ahmed.
“But more importantly, something struck my mind, that we, followers and associates of the Late Dr. Olusola Saraki have not done enough to immortalise our leader, mentor, father and benefactor who had given so much to us and who had given all his life to the common people. To me, establishing a foundation thus became most desirable in honouring him in such a way that his name will remain indelible in the minds of several Nigerians and mankind from one generation to another,” Hassan stated further.
At the event, the clamour to rename Kwara State University (KWASU) after the second republic senate leader resurfaced again. Leading the call was a life-long associate of the late politician, Chief Tunji Arosanyin, who is chairman of the SSEF. He argued that legislative processes had been concluded for the name-change since 2013 and should be implemented without delay.
About N50 million was realised at the event with the state government doling out N15 million. Other donors include the state’s House of Assembly (N10m), Senator Biodun Olujimi (N10m), Alhaji Moshood Mustapha (N2m) and wife of the deceased politician, Mrs. Morenike Saraki, (N1m).
Scion of the deceased, Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki was represented at the event by prominent politician and All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart, Alhaji Kawu Baraje. The Senate President who commended the conveners of the foundation and pledged his moral, financial and physical support to its sustainability, charged members of the foundation to ensure that the legacy of the late political icon lives on, particularly in the areas of health and education. Similarly, the chairman of the event, Senator Dino Melaye was absent. No donation was announced for either the Senate President or Melaye, but Baraje doled out N1milion in his personal recognition.
Arosanye, who recalled having participated in the public debate on the bill by lawmakers in Kwara state to rename KWASU after Saraki said he, had been expectant like many other followers of the late politician that the state government would act on the bill.
“People who know the contributions of Saraki to Kwara State since its creation until he was called to glory are anxiously waiting for the positive decision of the state government in the re-naming, especially when other states in Nigeria are honouring their leaders in such ways,” he said.
In response to the call, Governor Ahmed promised to ensure that the institution is ultimately renamed after the late Saraki saying it would be a better way of immortalising the late politician, whom he described, as “an outstanding politician, mentor and philanthropist.” He said all arrangements to that effect would be finalised before the end of the year as he noted that the late Waziri of Ilorin’s love for education was evident in his contributions to the building of several primary and secondary schools in the state.
Ahmed commended the initiator of the foundation for complimenting government’s efforts in making education accessible to all and called on individuals and corporate bodies to invest in education as a way of securing the future of the children, who he described as `leaders of tomorrow.’
One interesting aspect of the programme was the revelation from the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Gambari, who disclosed that the late Saraki actually paid salaries to his colleagues as Senate Leader when their salaries were being delayed.
The Emir described the late Waziri of Ilorin as a philanthropist who lived all his life and expended his resources in helping people.
“During his time in the Senate as Senate Leader, there was a period when the senators did not receive three months salaries and he (Sola Saraki) was paying their salaries; this shows he lived a life dedicated to selfless service of humanity,” the Emir said.
In his own comments, National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, described the foundation as a good innovation typifying how much the late politician sacrificed in assisting people while alive.
Also, the Emir Okuta, Baruten Local Government Area of the state , Alhaji Abubakar Sero Idris, commended the initiators of the SSEF, describing it as one of the best ways to immortalise the former Senate leader.
He noted that there was nothing too much that any government, group of people or even individual can do for the late Senate Leader, considering his achievements for the young, the old and the underprivileged across the country during his life time.
and then