FG tasks wealthy Nigerians on philanthropy, support to country’s development.

The Federal Government on Thursday asked wealthy Nigerians to support it to lift the nation’s education sector.
The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, made the appeal at the inauguration of a Senate building donated by Chief Wole Olanipekun, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), to the Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology (BOUESTI), Ikere-Ekiti.
Alausa said that the responsibility of funding education should not be left in the hands of government alone and appealed to wealthy Nigerians to emulate Olanipekun by giving back to society.
He commended Olanipekun, a former National President of the Nigeran Bar Association (NBA) for the donation.
The minister said that the donor had over the years shown commitment and unrelenting interest in the development of the education sector.
He said that the appointment of Olanipekun, as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the University of Lagos, was not unconnected with his love for and contributions to educational development of the country.
“The Senate building, donated by Chief Wole Olanipeku, and which we commission today, will play a crucial role in making the current government’s aspirations, a reality.
” It will facilitate efficient governance, support academic research, and contribute to the excellence that Bamidele Olumilua University of Education and Technology, Ikere, (BOUESTI) is known for” he said.
Olanipekun, in his speech, said he derived pleasure in adding value to the lives of others, especially institutions, saddled with the responsibility of impacting knowledge.
He promised to continue in that line of action, even as he pledged to continually make himself available for further philanthropic activities.
Gov. Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti, who performed the inauguration of the building, said the state appreciated the roles the duo of Olanipekun and elder statesman, Chief Afe Babalola, had been playing in positioning the state to global reckoning.
The governor commended Olanipekun’s relentless acts of generosity and devotion to community development, which he said, had spanned decades.
Oyebanji promised to furnish the senate building as well as construct a 5-kilometre road network within the university campus.
” This latest achievement by Chief Wole Olanipekun is a major landmark, and a new height in your enviable record as a generous philanthropist and committed leader,” he said.
Earlier in a welcome address, the University’s Pro -Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Prof. Patrick Aina, lauded the efforts of Olanipekun at raising the bar of the University of Lagos, where he is currently the Pro- Chancellor.
Aina promised that the management of BOUESTI would put the Senate building to good use and jealously guard and protect it.