The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, saturday lauded Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti for setting Ekiti on a solid rock in the education sector, saying the governor has begun to re-enact efforts that would bring back her old glory, when the state led in education.
Sanusi, represented by a former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, at an event which conferred honorary degrees in finance on eminent Nigerians at the Ekiti State University, also commended Fayose and the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Samuel Oye Bandele for being detribalised as well as conceiving the vision that is making the university a leading light in the country.
Those honoured included the Governors of Gombe, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo; Oyo, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu.
The Emir of Kano, who is a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), expressed gratitude to the university for finding him and other awardees worthy of the academic titles.
“This is indeed a great honour to us and it will remain in history. I am one of the happiest in this room looking at the enviable records reeled out by Governor Fayose being the achievements Ekiti recorded under his leadership.
“I have seen the remarkable achievements Fayose is making in Ekiti and the affection he has for his people. I want to congratulate you. And I want to tell you that the Emir is Kano’s Ambassador in Ekiti varsity and I know that he will be willing to be of help to this university,” he said.
As part of the gestures that lit the occasion, Fayose gave a sum of N2.5 million and scholarship up to the graduate level to Master Oluwatosin Ogundipe, a student of Shepherd High School for coming first in Young Best Scientist of the year.
Fayose, also donated a sum of N1.5 million to the pupil’s school and a sum of N500,000 each to the awardee class and lesson teachers for doing the state proud at the national pedestal.
The governor said education remained the best legacy and thriving industry to every Ekiti man, saying his government would do everything humanly possible to preserve and maintain the status the state has achieved in the sector.
He promised that his government “would continue to pamper our teachers, because when the foundation is strong, then the university level can be taken for granted.
“Ekiti is a state that can supply 10 professors per family. This underscores the level of priority we place on education and we will not keep our identity as the Fountain of Knowledge and this can only reflect if we take the lead in the sector,” he said.