Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called on President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government to devise a sustainable approach to financing education in Nigeria. Speaking at the 70th birthday celebration of the Vice Chancellor of Bells University, Prof. Oludele Ojediran, held at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Obasanjo emphasized the need for robust youth empowerment initiatives.

“President Tinubu and the Federal Government must find a means to finance education for its sustainability. Governments at all levels must also empower the youths to become providers of job opportunities,” Obasanjo said.

The former president commended LAUTECH for its role in producing exceptional academics and administrators, citing Professors Adeyemi and Ojediran, both former Vice Chancellors of Bells University, as shining examples. Obasanjo reiterated his commitment to prioritizing education as a service rather than a profit-driven venture, stressing his dedication to preserving Nigeria’s educational heritage.

The Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye, also praised Obasanjo’s contributions to education and agriculture, urging Prof. Ojediran to leverage his expertise in agricultural engineering for the advancement of Ogbomoso. The monarch pledged to allocate suitable farmland to individuals interested in agricultural initiatives within the region, underscoring the importance of agriculture in fostering local development.