Hope James
Founder and Chancellor, Afe Babalola University, ABUAD, Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, have charged the Federal Government to prosecute illegal accumulators of wealth, stating that it is the major problem of education in Nigeria as there is paucity of funds.
Babalola decried the nation’s external debt as the major problem confronting education noting that it was the reason why ASUU embarked on the 8-month strike.
The legal luminary made the remarks, yesterday, at ABUAD, at the signing ceremony of the tripartite medical training agreement among John Hopkins Hospital, USA, Little-By-Little Foundation and ABUAD.
According to him, Nigeria external debt stand at N70 trillion and monthly repayment stand at 5.2 trillion adding that government should prosecute illegal wealth accumulators.
His words: “We must repay all of our debts or a substantial part thereof. The country should adopt the Obasanjo system of pleading for debt forgiveness or debt reduction.
“Government should stop those who are milking Nigerians to accumulate wealth, prosecute such illegal wealth accumulators and recover the money they have wrongfully accumulated so that we can come back to the status quo before introducing these measures.
“It is a well known fact that we are deep in debt and we are unable to pay the interest. ASUU was on strike for 8 months last year, salaries are not paid and no investor wants to come to Nigeria.”
The Founder of ABUAD said through the foundation, ABUAD medical students will be able to acquire additional medical education from the oldest and most respected hospital in the United States.
In her speech at the tripartite ceremony, the Vice Chancellor of ABUAD, Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, said the epoch making event will ultimately usher the students to the front seat of the medical profession within the shortest possible time.
She said: “We move steadily with a mindset to perch on the of global reckoning. We are indeed a global brand. The varied and comprehensive ranking have since validated us as an institution that lives up to its mission statement to change the world through quality and impactful education.”
Dr. Tokunbo Ajayi, who represented John Hopkins Hospital, USA, said the agreement is to train medical students from ABUAD on scholarship with the understanding that the student will give back to the society.
Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, represented by the SSG, said it will improve medical services in the country and enhance the students medical knowledge for the larger society.
“They will be trained in telemedicine collaboration in patient care, ICT care, tropical medicine, among others.”
Babalola commended the Chairman, Little-by-Little Foundation, Chief Afe Ajayi, who mid-wife the tripartite medical training agreement with John Hopkins Hospital, USA and ABUAD.