Wasiu Lam‑Adesina, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Oyo State, used a Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Oyo State Council Guest Forum in Ibadan on Wednesday to call for a overhaul of public‑school education. The associate professor of economic development planning warned that neglect and poor infrastructure have caused a decline in educational standards. He pledged that, if elected, his administration would revamp teachers' welfare and school facilities, echoing the legacy of Obafemi Awolowo and Bola Ige.
"Many of our current leaders benefited from the free quality education initiative of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Bola Ige. I am from a humble background; the same education programmes offered by these great leaders contributed to my current status. So, children from poor backgrounds should be given equal opportunities to excel, as obtainable in the elite schools. If voted into power, I want to do things that will make the future of our children better than the present," Lam‑Adesina said.
He also highlighted broader deficits in primary health care, electricity and security, noting that many graduates leave the state for jobs abroad. "Unless we improve the essentials of life for our people, they will continue to travel abroad. It is our responsibility to work together and move the state forward to make things better for our people," he added.
Lam‑Adesina urged a revival of farm settlements and full implementation of local‑government autonomy to boost food production and resource allocation. "We are pacesetters; we need to work together and ensure that we achieve development in the nooks and crannies of the state. It is our collective responsibility to make things work and reduce the hardship facing the people of the state currently," he concluded.
Akeem Abas, chairman of the NUJ Oyo State Council, reminded attendees that the union remains apolitical and that the forum simply offers politicians a platform to present their visions. (NAN)
Lam‑Adesina's emphasis on reviving Awolowo‑era education reveals a strategic attempt to link his campaign with revered historical figures, positioning himself as the heir to a celebrated progressive legacy. By invoking Awolowo and Bola Ige, he seeks to capture the nostalgia of voters who associate those names with free, high‑quality schooling.
The candidate's broader critique—citing inadequate health services, power shortages, insecurity and graduate brain‑drain—reflects persistent structural challenges that have plagued Oyo for years. His promise to restore farm settlements and grant full autonomy to local governments hints at a decentralisation agenda aimed at unlocking resources for grassroots development.
If Lam‑Adesina's proposals materialise, families in low‑income neighbourhoods could see improved school conditions and better teacher remuneration, potentially narrowing the gap between elite and public institutions. Moreover, enhanced local‑government funding might translate into more reliable electricity and health facilities, reducing the incentive for young professionals to emigrate.
The narrative aligns with a growing pattern among Nigerian aspirants who blend nostalgic policy references with calls for decentralised resource control, suggesting that future electoral contests will increasingly hinge on promises of systemic reform rather than mere party rhetoric.
