Nigeria\u2019s first president and governor-general, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, yesterday took center stage at the 41st convocation lecture of the university of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN).<\/p>\n
Former president Obasanjo was full of encomiums for the Pan-Africanist for his vision to have indigenous education factory for the production of authentic made-in-Nigeria graduates who would be catalysts for national development<\/p>\n
Delivering the university\u2019s 41st convocation lecture titled, \u201cEducation and Development\u201d, he recalled that as a student in the United States, Dr. Azikiwe had seen at first-hand how much transformation and development that a good education could bring to individuals and their communities and vowed, that he would work toward the establishment of a highly qualitative institution of higher learning on his return to Nigeria.<\/p>\n
Obasanjo said in fulfillment of his avowal, when Zik returned to Nigeria and became the premier of Eastern Region, he led Eastern Nigerian Government Mission to Europe from May 5, to July 11, 1954 where the foundation for the establishment of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, was laid. He explained that through the vision of Azikiwe, the Mission had recommended the establishment of a University that should be full-fledged, that will reflect not only the cultural values of the nation, but should as well, be different from the classical conception of a British University College, by awarding its own degrees in all relevant disciplines and vocational fields.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere after, the House of Assembly of Eastern Nigerian, passed the University of Nigeria law on May 18, 1955 bringing into being, University of Nigeria which was lunched on October 7, 1960,\u201d Obasanjo said.
\nHe said that the wavering stages underwent by the university in the past when internal strife and acrimony threatened to consume it, especially in the second half of 1970s but commended the vice chancellor, Professor Barth Okolo for the transformation he has seen in the University.<\/p>\n
\u201cI compare this with the image I have from previous visit and I can confidently say that if the trend is sustained, and there is a critical mass of believers, this great institution will rise up to its true potential as a global centre of excellence.\u201cYou must have the moral courage to fight for core values that have kept afloat against the onslaught of corruption and misplaced personal and national minorities\u201d, he said. Obasanjo charged the Vice Chancellor to continue to push towards the vision of the university\u2019s leadership shares with such passion and understanding.<\/p>\n
Obasanjo said that in spite of the achievements of the nation\u2019s education sector, four serious problems still persisted to dwarf government efforts. He enumerated the mitigating factors as access to education at all levels, poor quality, purpose and relevance. He however stressed that for the efforts in the educational sector to be meaningful, all hands must be on deck with the private sector and individuals playing considerable roles in its funding.<\/p>\n