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From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
Former Governor of Osun State and a past Interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, has asserted that Nigeria’s on-going insecurity can only be effectively addressed through quality education.
Speaking during his 87th birthday celebration in Ila Orangun on Friday, Akande emphasised that insecurity cannot be eliminated quickly or through shortcuts but can be gradually mitigated with a focus on educational improvement. He warned against lowering cut-off marks for educational institutions, stating that such actions would not enhance educational standards in Nigeria, but would ultimately render the country less competitive on a global scale.
“Good education will make you competitive with the global world. If you offer only a 25 per cent pass mark in the university, you can’t compete with countries like China that expect 80 per cent, where they practice absolute meritocracy,” he noted. Akande criticised the tendency to cut corners, stating: “When you admit students with such low standards, you cannot compare with nations like China, where failure to achieve merit precludes membership in the Communist Party, thereby allowing only capable individuals to vote and be voted for.”
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He further highlighted that the challenges of insecurity, including Boko Haram, banditry, and kidnapping, stem from a lack of deep educational understanding.
“Let people study very deeply; all this insecurity will become a thing of the past. Your generation cannot eradicate it overnight, but it can be gradually eliminated with deep, mass universal education,” he urged.
President Bola Tinubu, who was represented by George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, praised Akande’s dedication to the nation, calling it a privilege to celebrate a life marked by integrity, courage, and a commitment to democratic ideals.
“The history of our nation’s progress towards democracy is incomplete without the special place reserved for you,” he remarked. In attendance, Bola Oyebami, the APC governorship candidate in Osun, described Akande as an exemplary leader and an institution of knowledge that others can aspire to.
