The Minister of Education, Prof. Ruquayattu Rufa’i, on Saturday, appealed to the private sector and well meaning Nigerians to partner with the Federal Government to develop the education sector.
Rufa’i made the appeal while inaugurating some projects at? University of Ibadan.
The projects included a 350-seat law lecture theatre, which was donated by the Pro-Chancellor of the university, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), and the 2km UI-Ajibode road.
The minister said that no matter how rich in resources a government might be, it could not adequately provide all the needs of the? citizens.
“We thank you very much our own Prof. Wole Olanipekun; this gesture will go down in history, not only for UI but Nigeria as a whole.
“I urge other pro-chancellors to emulate his good gesture. What we mean is that people should come and partner with government.
“What he has done goes beyond partnering only with the Faculty of Law but affecting the entire university and the nation by extension, “ she said.
Rufa’i urged all vice-chancellors to ensure they adequately maintained facilities in their institutions.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Isaac Adewole, said that the institution was constrained to about 600 hectares, which had been fully been utilised over the years.
“But then, thank God a couple of years ago an administration in the university succeeded in acquiring another 583 hectares from the good people of Ibadanland.
“The pro-chancellor and chairman of council used his ingenuity in getting us money to open this land through the instrumentality of the National Assembly and the Presidency.
He said through the effort the university succeeded in getting N1.3 billion with which it constructed the road.
“It is like UI is helping the people of Ibadan. During the flood of last year, the entire people could have been completely cut off from the rest of the country, “ Adewole said.
Adewole commended the pro-chancellor for self-financing the construction of the law theatre, adding that he was the first serving individual to assist the university.
“The chairman of council is the first to erect a self-financed building in this university, “ he said.
Olanipekun, in his remarks, recalled how late President Umaru Yar’Adua, took interest in the road project and said? God had made it a reality.
On the law theatre, Olanipekun said: “I believe? that life is not just about taking but also about giving. “
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