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Quality Education Requires Over N2.5t Annually – Babalakin Insists

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Eniola Olayemi

 

The Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), has said Nigeria needs over N2.5 trillion annually to provide quality education at all levels.

Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), has said Nigeria needs over N2.5 trillion annually to provide quality education at all levels.

 

Babalakin spoke at the weekend at a Fund Raising Dinner organized by the Alumni of the College of Medicine, UNILAG.

 

He was the chairman of the occasion.

The lawyer and businessman explained that the government clearly does not have enough resources to adequately fund first class education and other sources of funding must be explored.

 

Babalakin said: “The College of Medicine, UNILAG, is a very good product to celebrate.

“But to keep the flag flying, to maintain the standards, we need substantial funding. Government alone cannot afford to fund education.

 

“To have quality education in Nigeria today at all levels, it requires N2.5 trillion per year.

“That is close to 50 per cent of total receipts of monies coming to this system, yet we cannot delay the funding of education.

“We cannot give low quality education because there is no money, so we must look at all sources.

“We must look at governmental sources, private sources and every other source to achieve the objective of funding a first class educational system.

 

“We have all it takes in terms of personnel and basic infrastructure.

“What we require is substantial funding.

 

“I look forward to a day when Nigerian universities will be sufficiently robust financially, a day when government funding will only be, at best, an addition.”

 

Babalakin reminded the guests of the good old days when the University College Hospital, Ibadan was one of the top five hospitals in the Commonwealth, which included England, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Canada.

 

He said it was possible to have that high quality of education and performance again, if we make it a priority.

 

His words: “We have done it before and we can do it again.

“Between 1972 and 1975, UCH was the 4th to 5th rated hospital in the Commonwealth.

“So I don’t want you to place your ambition at the local level.

“I don’t want you to aim for the roof.

“Let’s start aiming for the sky.

“We have done it before.

“Let us have a vision that will take us out of this situation we are in; a vision that will reposition our educational system.

 

“Let’s have what we had as UNILAG students in 1978.

“About 20 per cent of our law class did their A-levels abroad and came back to UNILAG to read law.

 

“That was how great the faculty was.

“Now you have so many people who think that unless they’ve gone abroad, they’ve not started education.

 

“We have to reverse this trend and we can only do so with the right resources.

“With the people I see here and the commitment I see here, I have no doubt whatsoever that we are on the right part and this is the beginning.”

 

Babalakin assured donors to the college that their funds would be judiciously spent and they would be invited to see the projects their funds were expended on.

 

“He appealed to the Lagos State Government to fix the road leading to the College of Medicine, which is in a deplorable state.

 

The pro-chancellor said he was impressed that the likes of Prof. Dapo Ashiru and Dr. Sunny Kuku, who left the College of Medicine a long time ago, were still actively involved in improving the college, adding that their enthusiasm was infectious.

 

The Provost of the College, Prof. F.E. Lesi, said the college had pioneered many great innovations but its major challenge was funding.

 

He explained that funding was needed for capital projects and maintenance of facilities.

Lesi also identified space constraints as one of the college’s challenges and urged the Lagos State Governor to look into it.

 

At the event were philanthropist and businessman Chief Adebutu Kessington and his wife; Chief Olu Okeowo and his wife; the Olugbo of Ugboland, Oba Obateru Akinruntan, and his wife; the Ajalorun of Ijebu-Ife, Oba Adesesan Oguntayo; Providus Bank Managing Director, Walter Akpani; and his wife/Managing Director, Northwest Petroleum & Gas Company, Winifred Akpani, among others.

 

 

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FIVE KIDNAPPERS FATALLY INJURED IN POLICE OPERATION ON LAGOS-IBADAN EXPRESSWAY

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…As Commissioner of Police reiterates commitment to ensure safety of lives and property

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED: H&H

On January 25, 2025, at about 1900hrs, the Area Commander, Sagamu received a distress call from commuters travelling along Sagamu-Ijebu Ode Expressway of an ongoing armed robbery near Ilishan, Ogun State. Acting swiftly, the Area Commander mobilized a crack team of officers to the scene.

Upon arrival, officers discovered that a group of unidentified gunmen had set up a roadblock using an articulated truck, indiscriminately opening fire on unarmed passengers, causing widespread panic. In the ensuing chaos, three commuters – Bolaji Bilesanmi ‘m’, 65yrs Olasunkanmi Idowu ‘m’ 50yrs, and Mohammed Salisu ‘m’ (age unknown) were abducted into the forest from two vehicles (1) Honda Pilot (Registration No. Lagos EKY113GZ) and (2) Honda Accord Car (Registration No. Lagos KJA13QFA).

SWIFT POLICE INTERVENTION

The Commissioner of Police, CP. Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD. directed a covert operation led by the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit. On January 29, 2025, at about 0400hrs, operatives located the kidnappers’ hideout, and upon sighting the police squad, the gang engaged the officers in a fierce gun battle. In the exchange, five (5) kidnappers were fatally injured while others escaped with gunshot wounds.

RECOVERED ITEMS

The following items were recovered from the scene:
• One AK-47 rifle
• Ten rounds of 5.6mm calibre ammunition
• ₦5.2 million (suspected to be proceeds of crime)
• Three mobile phones

The three (3) kidnapped victims regained their freedom unhurt. Efforts are ongoing to arrest injured members of the syndicate. The Commissioner of Police strongly warns against criminal activities, particularly among young individuals seeking financial gain through high-profile crimes.

He reiterates the Command’s unwavering commitment to an aggressive crackdown on criminals preying on innocent citizens in Ogun state.

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So-Safe Corps Apprehends Ex-Convict with Human Skull in Ogun

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So-Safe Corps Apprehends Ex-Convict with Human Skull in Ogun

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

The Ogun State Community, Social Orientation, and Safety Corps (So-Safe Corps) has apprehended a middle-aged man at a tomb in Kere, Obada-Oko, Abeokuta, Ogun State, while he was allegedly attempting to exhume a human skull.

This was disclosed in a press statement issued by the Commander of So-Safe Corps, Commander (Dr.) Soji Ganzallo, through the office of the Director of Information and Public Relations of the Corps, Assistant Commander Moruf Yusuf.

According to the statement, at about 2:35 a.m. on January 21, 2025, officers of the So-Safe Corps on routine patrol observed suspicious activity on a parcel of land behind a church. The suspect, identified as 54-year-old Adelani Oriyomi, was spotted trying to hide. Once the coast seemed clear, he resumed digging the tomb to allegedly retrieve a human skull. However, the officers returned to the scene, apprehending him before he could escape.

Ganzallo revealed that the suspect, a resident of Kere, Obada-Oko in Ewekoro Local Government Area, confessed to the crime during interrogation. Oriyomi admitted that on January 18, 2025, he had exhumed a skull from a tomb on a plot of land behind his residence. He confessed that he was now attempting to retrieve another skull to complete the number required for a money ritual preparation known as Osole. Oriyomi further disclosed that he had hidden the first skull in his room.

The suspect also confessed to being a seasoned offender, having sold nearly ten skulls in the past. He revealed that previous arrests for similar offenses committed at Ado-Odo led to two years of imprisonment and a further six years and nine months at the Oba Correctional Center following another conviction in Obada-Oko.

Commander Ganzallo confirmed that the suspect and the recovered exhibit—a fully dried human skull—have been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force, Obada Divisional Headquarters, for further investigation and possible prosecution.

In his remarks, Ganzallo urged community leaders to thoroughly screen tenants and visitors to prevent harboring undesirable individuals. He emphasized that such vigilance could ensure 70% of home security, with the remaining 30% relying on alertness to external threats.

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SANWO-OLU COMMISERATES WITH JIGAWA GOVERNOR, VICTIMS FAMILIES OVER FUEL EXPLOSION TRAGEDY 

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SANWO-OLU COMMISERATES WITH JIGAWA GOVERNOR, VICTIMS FAMILIES OVER FUEL EXPLOSION TRAGEDY 

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of those who died in the unfortunate fire incident in Majiya town, in the Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State, following the explosion of a petrol-laden tanker.

The Governor also sent a note of sympathy to his colleague, Governor Umar Namadi, friends and associates of the victims, as well as the people and Government of Jigawa State.

Governor Sanwo-Olu said the unfortunate incident has left yet another scar in the minds of millions of Nigerians, adding that no nation or people could afford to experience this kind of tragedy without its effect on the social and psychological wellbeing of the people.

Sanwo-Olu, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, offered prayers for the victims and their families, Governor Umar Namadi, and the citizens of Jigawa over the tragic loss of their fellow residents.

He said, “It is with heavy heart that I have read and followed the development of the disaster that happened yesterday in Majiya town, in the Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State, following the explosion of a petrol-laden tanker that claimed over 153 persons.

“Certainly, this unfortunate incident is beyond what we can reasonably imagine, going by what I have seen in the media. The devastating effects can only be imagined.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with my brother, Governor Umar Namadi, the Government and the people of Jigawa State over this very sad incident.

“I pray for the repose of the deceased and ask that the Almighty Allah grant the families of the victims the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”

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