Free Education Can Solve Problem Of Corruption, Other Vices- Olanipekun
Eminent lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun at the weekend said offering free education at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels in Nigeria will help to solve the problem of corruption and other vices rocking the country.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria said this in Ikere Ekiti, headquarters of Ikere local government of Ekiti State during the 2017 Edition of Wole Olanipekun Scholarship Scheme, where over 100 students in secondary, tertiary and law schools received cheques to finance their education.
The renowned legal luminary pointed out that education remains the most potent weapon against social ills and vices, including corruption, saying the country’s approach in the anti-graft fight will remain cosmetic until education is declared free for the teeming youths of the country.
Olanipekun who disclosed that over 250 students of tertiary institutions have benefited from the gesture since its inception in 1996, voiced his commitment to continually to support indigent students of the town to achieve their dreams of becoming great in life, in line with public-private partnership policy .
Delivering the lecture entitled: ‘Philanthropy and Education Debacle in Nigeria’, on the occasion, former Deputy Vice Chancellor, Ekiti State University, Prof Kunle Adegun, suggested that the scheme must transform into a foundation for it to outlive its founder and make better contributions to scholarship.
Represented by the principal of the scholarship board, Chief Ayodele Omotayo, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria said, “It is indeed true that education brings light, freedom, and loosens chains, and it breeds good citizens.
“In my humble view, the first thing any government should do to nip corruption in the bud or reduce to a minimal level is to give citizens free education at all levels and also strive to provide employment opportunities for the youths.
“These are the things the least corrupt countries like Sweden and Singapore are doing for their citizens. These countries are providing certainty for people in their old age and they are ensuring that they will not die unattended to, particularly in their areas of their welfare.
“In my mind, rather than sloganeering and offering rhetoric on fight against corruption, what we should do is to provide means by which our youths can enjoy free education from primary to the university level, and also provide gainful employments after schools”, he advised.
He regretted that the country’s value had so much been debased to the level that Ph.D holders now apply for a job of monthly pay of N50,000, describing the scenario as great impediment to the anti-graft war.
Adegun, advised Nigerians to imbibe the culture of contributions to education as obtainable in United States of America, Britain and other advanced countries of the world.
“In Nigeria, there are notable philanthropists like Tony Elumelu, Aliko Dangote, Folorunso Alakija, Chief Kessignton Adebutu and others. Government alone can’t fund education and when wealthy people are lending their helping hands, then the society will be better for it.
“Their contributions will help poor students to realize their full potentials and that is why funding of education by private individuals is very essential.
“For us to build our education, the parents, students, government and teachers must come together to play their parts effectively.
“You can’t blame government alone for the decadence in the system. And it is only when the stakeholders play their parts that the money being spent by Chief Olanipekun will not go down the drain”, he said.
