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WELCOME ADDRESS BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE STEPHEN OLUWOLE AWOKOYA FOUNDATION FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION, SENATOR OLABIYI DUROJAIYE, ON THE OCCASION OF THE 11 TH ANNUAL LECTURE AND AWARD OF SCHOLARSHIPS AT MUSON CENTER, ONIKAN, LAGOS, ON TUESDAY MARCH 14, 2006. |
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Your Excellency, Dr Chief Alex Ekwueme , GCON, former Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria and the chairman of today's event (kedu o Da lu) Our respected Guest Lecturer, Prof. Ifedayo O. Oladapo OON, NNOM, Emeritus Professor of Civil Engineering (E seun o E ku abo). Right from the Reception hall, I have noticed many familiar faces and sincere friends who have always spared time to attend our annual lectures and awards of scholarships over the past eleven years of the establishment of this Foundation. We are profoundly grateful to you all. Before I go further in my welcome address, I wish to call to memory the immense contribution of one of our cherished Trustees, Dr AYO KOLAWOLE FASINA who passed on to the great beyond on October 22, 2005. I seek your cooperation in standing to observe a minute of silent prayer for the repose of his soul in the Lord and the protection and blessing of the family he left behind. May the good Lord grant our prayers. Amen. For the benefit of those who are honouring our invitation for the first time, I need to say very briefly, that this Foundation was established in March 1995 ostensibly to mark the tenth anniversary of the transition to eternity of one of Nigeria's foremost scientists and educationists. I refer to Professor STEPHEN OLUWOLE OLUREMI ATANDA AWOKOYA, |
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Nigeria's first university graduate in Chemistry, first principal of Molusi College, Ijebu-Igbo, first Minister of Education in the Old Western Region of Nigeria during whose tenure the revolutionary Universal Free Primary Education Scheme was established by the star-studded cabinet of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, both of blessed memory. Prof. Awokoya was also the first Principal of the Federal Emergency Science School in Lagos , a former Permanent Secretary and Federal Adviser on Education and the brain behind the ASPAU i.e. AFRICAN STUDENTS PROGRAMME IN AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES. ASPAU produced many Nigerian intellectuals and professionals. He later rose to be a Director of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Paris . His last duty post was also in the field of education. He was Professor of Education Curriculum at the University of Ife ; now Obafemi Awolowo University , Ile-Ife. The rationale for establishing the Foundation, therefore, was to continue the pioneering work to which Prof. Awokoya devoted his entire life. Hence our determination to award scholarships to very brilliant students in pursuit of post-graduate courses in the field of SCIENCE EDUCATION . As could be seen from the information contained in the programme, our aim is not limited to scholarship awards alone. We plan to endow University Chairs in the field of Science Education and subject to availability of funds, to equip science laboratories not only at the tertiary level but also in as many secondary schools as we can afford. Our Foundation recognizes the pitiable standard of laboratory equipment and dearth of well-equipped libraries in virtually all the schools in our dear country. Yet, I wonder if there is anyone in position of authority who does not appreciate the link between sound scientific knowledge and rapid development of our country. That is why we shall always be grateful for whatever donations you well-wishers can give to our Foundation to promote its patriotic objectives. Although our Foundation is more devoted to scientific and professional matters and has no partisan leaning in politics, I should not end this welcome address without passing some short comments on my personal, repeat personal, and not our Foundation views on two current national issues. • First is the current two-day boycott of the law courts by members of the Nigerian Bar Association. This is a painful event since most lawyers enjoy being in court as a matter of duty |
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and professional pride. It is even more painful to our clients whose search for justice is further delayed by avoidable adjournments. So, a boycott is not a decision any lawyer would light-heartedly take. It has become necessary to arouse public opinion and appeal to the sense of judgment of those in the executive arm of government to respect the long-enshrined principle of “separation of powers” . For there can be no democracy unless LAW RULES . The alternative to the rule of law is a reverse movement to “the state of nature”, i.e. a state of anarchy in which ‘might is right' and the life of man is “nasty, short and brutish”. Apology to Thomas Hobbes a revered political philosopher. • The second and indeed more profound issue of today is the dinning noise on the amendment of the country's constitution to achieve third-term extension to the tenure of those in topmost executive political positions. Scarcely has any attention been paid to what many consider the most important constitutional issue over-due for amendment. It is the restoration of TRUE FEDERALISM . This was the basis on which our founding fathers – the Azikiwes , the Awolowos , the Ahmadu Bellos , the Aminu Kanos and other revered, selfless statesmen and the representatives of the British Government reached an agreement to grant independence to Nigeria on October 1, 1960. With the military incursion and interregnum between January 1966 and May 1999, Nigeria 's Government has been federal only in name but unitary in reality. This is contrary to the constitution. Once we revert to true federalism only powers or functions essential for a sovereign nation such as national currency, foreign policy/affairs, Defence and trans-country road networks will be vested in the center. RESIDUAL POWERS i.e all other functions like Education, public Health, Agriculture, Industries etc will be vested in the federating units i.e. regional or state governments. This done, the centrifugal tendencies and problems such as revenue allocation on basis of derivation “the RESOURCE CONTROL ” bogey will be solved. May be, for economic and administrative reasons, Nigeria should be reorganised on basis of six regions vis-à-vis the |
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three as at the time of independence when each region retained 50% of its revenues and regions were able to embark on bold, socio-economic projects like the Universal Free Primary Education of Western Region. Life was much better then. It can still be good. Indeed, it must be better. A word is enough for the wise. If the people know what is best for them, restructuring Nigeria whereby we will have more money for developmental and employment-generating projects and less on bureaucracy, will take precedence over elongating tenure of individual leaders for eternity.
Thank you for your attendance and attention. Thank you indeed.
Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye. |
