…As Independent Marks 70th Anniversary Of Free Primary Education
Former governor of Osun State and elder statesman, Chief Bisi Akande, has asked state governors to emulate Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s initiative on free universal primary education.
In an interview with Daily Independent in Abuja on Monday, ahead of the 70th anniversary of Free Universal Primary Education slated for Thursday, October 9, 2025, at Eko and Suites Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos, Akande said Awolowo “was an embodiment of progress because he believed that the beginning and the end of man should be education.”
He challenged the Nigerian governors to put emphasis on education as Awolowo did, noting that educated minds are symbols of progress and development.
Akande said: “The better part of Chief Awolowo should be studied and copied. Awolowo was an embodiment of progress because he believed that the beginning and the end of man should be education and we should see education as what can make a man great and not money.
“Education is what we should now preach in every religious house, not money. Money makes nobody great, the day you die your money becomes another man’s money.
“But your education or innovation coming out from your mind when you are alive lives forever. So, Awolowo believed that every man must be educated so that every environment or surrounding will be developed. Because when you are good, you will want your own surrounding to be good, everywhere will be good.”
He further said: “I will think that the present-day governors will try to see why it is only education that can make you great. Let me put it this way. Why is it that it is only an educated mind that can make this country develop; let them try to educate their own mind in such a way as to make this country go forward.”
Akande lamented that from 1955 to 1965 and to 1975 education in the country was the best, until the Federal Government under the military forceful took over the educational sector.
Akande said: “When the universal primary education started in 1955 and up to about 1965, even up to about 1975, education was very meaningful. When you are tested you are worthy of that certificate.
“When I started, I told you education changes a man for the better and when your mind remains unchanged or remain criminal, you are not educated.”
The platinum jubilee of Free Universal Primary Education being organised by Independent Newspapers, will hold on Thursday, October 9, 2025 at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
It will feature a public lecture and platinum awards/gala night with red carpet.
