Seyi Makinde/
For seventy-one years, UI has produced eminent people who have gone ahead and made a mark in Nigeria and indeed the world’s scene. Greats minds like Chinua Achebe, Emeka Anyaoku, Flora Nwapa and Bola Ige to mention only a few, passed through this great institution.
Here in Oyo State, we believe that an educated population is an asset to the nation. Education begets development and development brings about real change and transformation. Education is one of those areas where we put away all partisanship and work for the common good.
At the basic education level, our administration is working day and night to improve the standard of education by providing the right infrastructure and improved human capital to produce first-class materials for transfer into the tertiary system.
We have provided exercise books and textbooks free of charge to our secondary school students. These textbooks are also available to be downloaded online on the Oyo State Government’s Ministry of Education website.
We are currently producing a compilation of past questions in ten subject areas to be distributed free of charge to help our SS 3 students prepare for their WAEC examinations.
Also, just recently, we increased the education budget, from about 3% to 10% of the total annual state budget in the revised 2019 budget. Our goal is to make education 15 to 20% of Oyo State’s total budgetary allocation in keeping with UNESCO recommendations.
So, let me assure you that going forward, with all the reforms we have put in place, there will be a remarkable improvement in the quality of candidates seeking admission into UI from Oyo State public schools.
I am also aware that at this occasion, the university will confer higher degrees on some qualified candidates. Let me say congratulations to all the conferees and to your family and friends who supported you through your time at the university.
I also wish to congratulate all eminent Nigerians who will receive honorary doctorate degrees of the University of Ibadan today. There is no doubt that you have all merited this great honour. May you continue to use your God-given endowments for the advancement of mankind.
The Oyo State Govt will continue to collaborate with the University of Ibadan in its quest for excellence. We believe that the existence of this institution remains a plus for the state as we move forward in using data and research to improve the lives of the people of Oyo State.
*Excerpts from the goodwill message delivered by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State at the 71st Foundation Day Ceremony and Special Congregation for the Award of Higher Degrees of the University of Ibadan on November 18, 2019
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