By Umar Bayo Abdulwahab
Ilorin
A renowned consultant, Professor Chris Imafidon, yesterday advised the federal government to spend more money on the education sector
Imafidon , who is the founder, Excellence in Education Programme (Oxford ,United Kingdom) spoke in Ilorin, Kwara state, while delivering the 33rd convocation lecture of the University of Ilorin
In his paper entitled: “The Genius in You’’: New Tools, Techniques and Technology for Developing Individual and Institutional Greatness”, said if the federal government failed to invest in education, children would “come after us when we are old
‘‘In Nigeria we spend more money on defence than education, I would like to have a private discussion with the president and the senate president, we cannot defend an empty house, a dilapidated house and leave our children and the most valuable asset we have which is the brain desolate”, he said
The convocation lecturer said government must pump more money into education sector to achieve result, saying, “we cannot have paper factories and call them universities’’
He, however, applauded the federal government for the establishment of TETfund describing it as one of the best things Nigeria had done that worth celebration
He blamed the resurgence of cultism in the nation’s universities to idleness
“That is why I am warning the visitor to this institution that if we don’t invest in education of our children, our children will come after us when we are old”
Imafidon also said those agitating for Biafra nation should have a rethink and redirect their time and resources towards developing their children to become great and rule the world
‘‘That (Biarfa) is total distraction, we should have a proper national discuss on how to bring up our children’’ While stressing on the need for the unity of the country to be sustained, he said one of the best thing that happened to Nigeria was the National Youth Service Scheme introduced by General, Yakubo Gowon in the 70s which he said had united Nigerians through inter marriage
Don’t let us take our unity for granted”, he warned
He said Nigerians must rise against anything that would lead to its disintegration
Vice chancellor of University of Ilorin, Professor Sulyman Age Abdulkareem , said the title of this year’s convocation lecture was not only apt, but also timely because this year’s convocation coincided with another glorious beginning in the history of the university
