The Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, (JAMB) Prof Is-haq Oloyede has commended the governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for coming up with an education model capable of providing functional education and making the state a model for others.
He spoke to the topic ‘Functional Education as a Tool for National Development and a Gateway to Freedom’ at the annual colloquium tagged RAUFNOMICS organised to mark the 61st birthday celebration of Osun Governor, Rauf Aregbesola on Sunday.
According to Oloyede, the models and achievements of the Aregbesola administration in the education and infrastructure sector in the last seven and half years should be emulated by other state governors if the nation wants to have a bright future.
Oloyede said every society must endeavor to develop the human mind through education as its being done in Osun, stressing that education is a veritable tool that can help an individual to stand on his or feet anywhere in the world.
The JAMB registrar explained that for education to be truly meaningful and impactful in the society, it must be efficient, functional, developed in a multidimensional manner and must be adaptable to every situation that can be thought of.
He said: “If we truly desire to be free and develop as a nation we need to take education more seriously as it’s being done in Osun under Rauf Aregbesola. A lot of investment needs to be done in the education sector by all governments.
“We must also endeavor to develop a functional curriculum, because, for education to be meaningful, it must be efficient, functional and be adaptable to new situations at any point in time.
“We should realise the fact that education is not a responsibility of government alone if we are truly serious about it. All stakeholders involved must rise up to the occasion for every child to benefit and not be for the rich alone.
Speaking on the infrastructure development, Oloyede said Aregbesola’s achievements is unprecedented in the state, saying that the state is now wearing a new look in terms of development.
He said: “Let me say it clearly and say it without reservation or sentiments, I wonder why people are not celebrating Rauf Aregbesola the way he deserves. It is the opposite of what is happening in Osun that we are reading in the papers, this state is progressing on a daily basis under the present administration.
“One of the few states where massive work is going on in Nigeria is Osun; for example, when coming from Ibadan and you get to the Gbongan junction and see the massive Adebisi Akande trumpet interchange bridge you will just marvel.
“Had it been that all past administrations in Osun has made use of their tenures to work for the development of the state as this, the state would not be as it is today and would have been much better than what we have now. It’s a pity the Nigerian media is under reporting this great man we have as governor in Osun.
“I believe without any reservation that we are so lucky to have Aregbesola as governor at this time in Osun and I have always taken every opportunity I have to bring outsiders into Osun for them to come and see the developments going on in this state.”
In an address, Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, described Aregbesola as a man who has redefined governance in Osun to the pride of every son and daughter of the state both at home and diaspora.
Oba Ogunwusi who stressed that the achievements of Aregbesola in Osun can never be forgotten in the state, noted that the governor has done so well to the extent that well wishers of the state are finding it hard to accept the fact that the governor’s tenure must come to an end.
The traditional ruler states: “Aregbesola is not an ordinary human being, he is an exceptional man. What Aregbesola has achieved in Osun with seven and half years surpasses what all past governors of Osun put together were not able to achieve.
“He is not someone that can be easily forgotten in a hurry, he has done so well to the extent that we have forgotten that his tenure must end, it’s as if he should continue in office.
“Anytime I see any of Aregbesola’s legacies especially the bridges we now have in Osun, my heart prays for him all the time because I am so happy and pleased with him within my heart.
“This great leader has done what nobody will ever forget in Osun, he has changed the face of this state; he has created so many new things for us that we are assured that the state can never retrogress again.”