Date: 2017-05-26

The first Senior Advocate of Nigeria in the Northern Region, Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Folorunso Abdul-Razaq, has attributed the falling standard of education in the country to policy inconsistency.

He warned that the nation's education sector is already lying in intensive care and needs surgical operation for total revival.

Abdul-Razaq stated this in Ilorin in his speech titled "Five decades after: Rekindling the Hope of Qualitative Education" delivered on the occasion of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Government High School, Adeta, Ilorin (the then Ilorin College, Ilorin, which he single handedly established.

The former diplomat, who spoke through his son, Dr Alimi Abdul-Razaq, also blamed the challenges bedeviling the education sector on lack of political will, warning that educational policies designed on deceit would end in abysmal failure.

Abdul-Razaq, the Mutawali of Ilorin, emphasized the importance of quality education as a way of priming successive generations for the task ahead and urged the government to return to the drawing board and fashion out new policies that would match the standard envisaged.

He also noted that new policies must key into the benchmark prescribed by the United Nations in order to have a literate society, a clear departure from what we have presently.

"One should at this juncture reiterate that no society can develop beyond the quality of education it bequeaths to the people living within it. Thus, this assertion justifies the importance of education in the life of man, right from the cradle to the grave.

"Though some of the problems earlier highlighted above also persist in this present time, it is disheartening that the contemporary challenges have assumed a frightening dimension.

"If the truth be told, our education system is in coma in intensive care unit, and it requires holistic surgical operation to revive it. We have got to a level that the quality of students churned out today as graduates has become subject of scrutiny. The problem is more pervasive in public schools. For the record, the problem did not just start today, it is an age long battle, which has continued unabated.

"As a matter of fact, the challenges confronting our educational system are emboldened by lack of political will and policy inconsistency. In a situation where you have educational policies being rolled out frequently without sincerity of purpose, then the by-product of such is abysmal failure. For us to have quality education in this part of the world, our policies must match our vision.

"The time is ripe for us to return to the drawing board to comprehensively dissect our policies in the education sector and appraise how they have fared in meeting our set goals in line with the benchmark prescribed by the United Nations", the pioneer Northern Senior Advocate of Nigeria said.

Abdul-Razaq, who also served as first Commissioner for Finance in Kwara State, however explained that his decision to establish Ilorin College, Ilorin then was to prepare better future for the then students.

He expressed gratitude to Almighty God that the old students of the school had become successful in their careers and callings.

The pioneer SAN therefore implored them to contribute to the development of their alma mater as government cannot solely bear the burden associated with education sector.

"Several products of the college are doing well in their respective areas of human endeavours. We can say with every sense of humility and responsibility that we have made history today and the presence of the products of the college affirm our position that we have a testimony to give.

"Fifty years in the life of an institution such as ours, is certainly an occasion for joy and celebration. I, therefore, congratulate you all for witnessing this day, especially for being part of this historic occasion. You all came in as boys and girls; you saw, and you conquered.

"Today, majority of you old students, especially of those pioneering years are fathers and mothers; while many among you are proud grandparents. How time flies! We thank Almighty God for the rapid transformation.

"More significantly, I am very proud of the great feats and accomplishments of some of you, in your respective careers and callings. You have, in practical terms, demonstrated that where there is a will, there is always a way. As a father and proprietor, this is a source of great joy to me", he said.

The occasion was commemorated with presentation of merit awards to selected 50 old students of the college, which was performed by the proprietor's wife, Alhaja Raliat Abdul-Razaq.

Some of the old students, who received awards at the ceremony were former Secretary to the Kwara State Government, Alhaji Saka Isau; wife of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Dr (Mrs) Hassanat Taiye Ambali; an Ilorin-based Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mallam Oba Adelodun and a retired Assistant Comptroller of Nigeria Immigration Service, Alhaji AbdulMumini AbdulMalik. Presenting the award, Abdul-Razaq said, "It is in recognition of this that my family has deemed it fit to place on record, our immense appreciation to you not only for distinguishing yourself, but making impactful contributions to societal development at both the micro and macro levels.

"This is the rationale behind our giving awards of recognition, to a select few among you at this brief but historic occasion, for making us all proud. In giving out these awards, however, we are also indirectly reminding you, the recipients, that you can certainly do more, especially for your alma mater that has given you a foundation, and for nurturing you to great heights.

"Let me, therefore, admonish you to continue to give back to your alma mater. And because government alone cannot shoulder the burden of education in our contemporary times, I wish to appeal to all old students of this institution to develop a more positive disposition towards contributing to the development of the school. May God continue to bless and elevate you all to greater heights!

Speaking at the event, the President, Old Students Association of the college, Alhaji Raji Mohammed, eulogized the founder for his vision in establishing the school.

He thanked Abdul-Razaq for baking them well through his foresight in making education accessible and affordable for the old students.

In his remarks, an Ilorin based SAN, Mallam Oba Adelodun, said it was gratifying that old students of the school came out as the leading prove that the dream of the founding father has come to fruition.

He recalled that A.G.F. Abdul-Razaq sowed the seed and watered it and prayed to Almighty Allah to continue to bless his family.