Date: 2010-10-12

The Kwara State Governor, Dr Bukola Saraki has described the death of a foremost educationist and former Minister of Education, Professor Aliu Babatunde Fafunwa as a monumental loss and a major set back for the Nigeria’s education sector.

Dr Saraki in a condolence message to the deceased family, the government and people of Lagos State, said the death of the great scholar came at a time when his wealth of experience and expertise were needed most to help reposition the country’s education sector.

The governor expressed shock at the news of the death of the elder-statesman whose singular contributions to the history of education in Nigeria was unparallel.

"With the death of this icon, no doubt, education sector in Nigeria has lost a colossus who worked tirelessly throughout his lifetime for the development of the sector", adding, "there is no way today in Nigeria that the history of education can be successfully written without a mention of Prof. Fafunwa, that in itself is a great legacy", Saraki said.

Prof. Fafunwa, according to him, will forever be remembered by all Nigerians for all the positive policies initiated by him when he was a Minister of Education, which he said, had helped in no small measure to shape the sector.

Dr Saraki then prayed God to grant his repose Aljanat-Firdaoz and the entire family left behind the fortitude to bear the loss.

The late Fafunwa, who was Nigeria’s Minister of Education between 1990 and 1992 under General Ibrahim Babangida’s regime, died on Monday in Abuja at the age of 87 years.


Mas’ud Adebimpe
Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor
12/10/2010