By Abbanobi -Eku Onyekachi, Abuja
Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Leader of the Senate, has challenged governments, corporate organizations, and philanthropists to invest more meaningfully in education. This call was made during the 29th convocation ceremony of Ekiti State University, where Bamidele was conferred with a Doctor of Law (Honoris Causa).
Bamidele emphasized the significance of quality education in achieving socio-economic transformation, citing examples of developed and emerging nations that have leveraged education to attain their national aspirations. He noted that providing an enabling and competitive environment, purposeful public investments in younger generations, and strategic support from private interests are essential for producing global billionaires and brands.
The Senator highlighted the importance of education in unlocking limitless opportunities across all sectors, liberating minds, and transforming generations. He emphasized that investing in people is crucial for achieving national development goals and overcoming challenges.
Bamidele’s call to action was accompanied by a challenge to public and private actors to recommit to investing in people. He urged them to reflect on the message and return to the drawing board to strategize and pursue plans for meaningful investment in education.
In his address, the Vice-Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Prof. Ayodele Joseph, acknowledged Bamidele’s contributions to the institution, including the facilitation of projects such as the construction of hostels, a mini stadium, and an FM Radio station. The Vice-Chancellor also noted the improvement in the university’s monthly subvention from N260 million to N410 million, attributing the success to Bamidele’s interventions.
