LAGOS – Afenifere group in the United Kingdom and Europe has called on all the Governors in South-West region of Nigeria not to destroy the hard earned legacy built by late Chief Obafemi Awolowo in which education was made free and compulsory for the people of the region which later spread across Nigeria.
The group said increasing school fees at this time of economic hardship in the country is unnecessary and attempt to frustrate the children of the region out of school.
The group in a statement on Tuesday September 17, 2024 by its Secretary, Engr. Anthony Ajayi, expressed worries that the Awolowo’s free education policy which gave those leading the region today access to education is being truncated.
It added that the implications of increasing school fees in the region will grossly affect the people who are already struggling for survival due to high cost of living in the country.
According to the group, the Awolowo free education policy contributed in no small measure to the progress and
development of both socio-political and educational growth of the region in particular and Nigeria in general. “Our current leaders should give top priority to education. They are beneficiaries of Awolowo’s free education policy”, the group stated.
The group noted further that Awolowo decision for free education was based on his conviction that only an educated person can play a full and meaningful role in the affairs of society.
“Awolowo vision was to offer free education so that every man and woman can stand up for himself or herself and find the way for the good of society for the benefits that are accruable to individuals and the larger society. Awolowo opined that the state should channel a large percentage of her resources into education.
“Consequently, Awolowo believed that education should be free at all levels since it represents the surest way to personal and social freedom.
“Education to him is a birthright of the child to be brought up in the most enlightened manner so that he can be of service to the society.
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Both the rich and the poor should be given the opportunity of the same type of education so that our society may not create false social class distinction”, the group said.
The group maintained that education which is the only hope for a brighter future for the people cannot be undermined by any leader in Yoruba land, noting that education of the Yoruba people should be maintained and sustained.
“We believe that education has a manifold impact on society, from raising the quality of life, to creating conditions conducive to the development of talented individuals capable of changing society. The importance of education in society lies in the fact that it creates opportunities for acquiring knowledge and skills that will literally change the world.
“We equally believe that the success of an individual greatly depends on his or her level of education and the ability to practically apply what he or she have learned in school.
” The accessibility of education is not only important for individual development, but also for the development of society as a whole.
“It is not just the information from the lessons that matters, but the entire learning process as well, from overcoming obstacles to personal development. This is how mature and accomplished individuals are created.
“We have a handful of challenges in our region already, and we cannot afford to double the challenges by increasing school fees of our children thereby causing them to drop out of school.
” We therefore appeal to all the Governors in South-West region to desist from increasing school fees.
We appeal particularly to the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who have increased boarding fees in all secondary schools across the state from N35,000 to N100,000 per term to rescind such decision”, the group said.
