The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Babalakin

  • Ex-CJN, Babalakin, FIRS boss to discuss Tax Administration at NBA 70th anniversary

    Ex-CJN, Babalakin, FIRS boss to discuss Tax Administration at NBA 70th anniversary

    The immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Wale Babalakin, and the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacheus Adedeji, are set to speak on “Tax and its Administration in Nigeria” at the 70th anniversary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ibadan Branch.

    The event, part of a week-long celebration of the Ibadan NBA’s milestone, will also feature prominent figures such as Olufemi Awakan, Chairman of Oyo State’s Internally Generated Revenue, NBA President Afam Osigwe, and the Minister for Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi.

    Notable attendees include Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), retired Court of Appeal Justice Peter Olabisi Ige, Ahmed Raji (SAN), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), and Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Iyabo Yerima.

    In an interview with journalists in Ibadan, the Chairman of the Ibadan NBA 70th Anniversary Planning Committee, Adebayo Mutalubi Ojo, revealed that as part of the celebrations, the Ibadan NBA will donate items to orphanages and hold the final of the Aare Afe Babalola football competition.

    Ojo emphasized that the Ibadan Bar is a pacesetter and the first formally organized bar association in Nigeria, having produced a distinguished group of lawyers excelling in various fields.

  • Babalakin decries Nigerian varsities occupying world’s 800th position

    The Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), has called for immediate revitalisation of Nigerian universities.

    He said the nation’s varsities cannot continue to occupy number 800 in the world.

    The eminent lawyer hoped that in the next five years, at least, one Nigerian university must be in the top 100.

    Babalakin spoke at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) where he chaired the third annual registry lecture series, titled: Public Service Rules And University Administration: Re-engineering For Excellence.

    The lawyer, who is also the Chairman of the Federal Government Renegotiation Committee with unions of Nigerian universities, said his committee realised that for Nigeria to position itself as a leading nation, it must improve its educational system.

    He said: “We have discovered that one of the challenges of the educational system in Nigeria is funding. We have also determined the average cost of funding every course. For example, this means that for UNILORIN, with a population of 50,000 students, based on the average cost of N1.2 million required yearly per student, the university requires N60 billion per annum to reposition itself as a first-rate university in the world. Where is this money going to come from?

    “From my experience with various universities, all UNILORIN has today is government allocation to pay salaries; some insignificant figure for recurrent and capital expenditure – definitely less than N1 billion annually – and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), which cannot afford to give the university N1 billion yearly. In total, you have about N12 billion and you require N60 billion. Where will the difference come from?”

    Explaining that various arguments had been put forward on where the difference should come from, Babalakin said: “A school of thought is that the money must come from government. Why not, if government can afford it? But if government cannot afford it, where will it come from? Our position, as negotiators for the government, is that somebody must pay – either government or someone else – but we are not willing to delay the revitalisation of Nigerian universities. We are not willing to be Number 800 in the world.

    “In the next five years, one Nigerian university must be in the top 100. It will be a celebration, if there are many more. Our employers will decide where the money is going to come from but this is the volume of money required to revitalise universities.”

    The lawyer said was impressed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo’s bluntness, a few days ago, when he said unless various arms of government become very creative in the funding of governments and institutions, the effect of the minimum wage and some other policies would strain the financial position of many of the institutions.

    Babalakin said: “Since then, so many of these laws have been questioned, eroded and qualified by general laws and circulars that did not specifically amend the university laws. This leaves the administrators of universities running helter-skelter to determine how these circulars/laws affect them. This is a very great challenge for an administrator, and it confuses university administration.

    “I urge universities to highlight such issues and bring them to government’s notice so that government, through the legislature, can come up with comprehensive laws that leave no room for contradictions.

    “These rules must be complied with and they must be harmonised to guide administrators appropriately. For stability, university rules cannot be changing every year. I think they should be reviewed every 10 years, after careful consideration of issues that may arise in the future.”

  • Integrity is key to success, says Babalakin

    The Pro-chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), has said true greatness can be measured by an individual’s integrity and the ability to positively affect the lives of the people around him.

    Babalakin spoke in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, at the 90th birthday  of a lawyer and industrialist, Chief Olatunde Ayinla Abudu.

    Abudu’s biography, titled: “Sowing The Industrial Mustard Seed”, written by Prof. Omololu Soyombo, was also presented at the event.

    Babalakin, who was the book reviewer, described it as “an encyclopedia of successful business principles”, adding that it contained theoretical and practical knowledge and must be read by every business school in Nigeria.

    The pro-chancellor and lawyer said he was particularly thrilled that Abudu realised early in life that there was substantial difference between business ownership and business management, adding that if the book had been written 20 years earlier, a lot of businesses would not have folded up.

    Speaking on Abudu’s character, Babalakin described him as “a man of integrity, an exceptional scholar, a great family man, a brilliant and foresighted lawyer, a remarkably resourceful person, a phenomenal entrepreneur, a knowledgeable man of industry, a relentless giver and the most charitable person you can ever imagine.”

    He said Abudu’s practice as a solicitor was characterised by so much honesty and great integrity that his clients started appointing him to various boards, including those of AGIP, Bank of America and West African Portland Cement, among others.

    On Abudu’s admiration for his principal at Abeokuta Grammar School, Rev. Oludotun Ransome Kuti, for his discipline, education and fairness as contained in the book, Babalakin said: “You can see that there were great schools in the Old Western Region. They were schools and not mere classrooms. Schools are institutions with traditions and culture. In modern days, I hear ‘oh I’ve built 30 schools’ and the likes, but all they have built are classrooms and not schools. It takes a while for a classroom to become a school.

    “One of the saddest events in Nigeria’s life was 1979, when free education was declared in Western Nigeria without the resources to fund it. There is nothing wrong with free education, I support it but if I have to choose between quality education and free education, I will choose the former.

    “For example, my alma mater, Government College Ibadan (GCI), which used to have 100 students per class now has 2,000 students, without any increase in infrastructure. This prompted a writer to say that this misguided egalitarianism should be the subject of a UNESCO investigation on how education was destroyed in this area. “

    On Abudu’s foray into industrialisation, Babalakin noted that even as a student, the industrialist, who graduated with a distinction from Wartburg College in Iowa, United States, was buying houses and renting them out, thereby making money from real estate.

    He added that when Abudu returned to Nigeria and realised that Abeokuta’s economy was depressed, he started setting up companies in the town and ended up becoming a “phenomenal employer”.

    Abudu’s companies, which are all functional, include Midland Gas Cylinder, Metoxide Nigeria Ltd, Apex Paints Limited, Architectural Products Limited, Midland Rolling Mills, Industrial Products International Limited, Midland Galvanising Products Limited and Organic Chemical Industry, among others.

    Abudu also built the Saje Hospital to meet the medical needs of his people and voluntarily gave it to the Ogun State College of Medicine later for the education of medical doctors.

    Regretting that Chief Abudu shied away from politics, Babalakin said: “We cannot have the most gifted people shying away from politics. The most painful thing in this world is to be subject to a powerful mediocre. He has the power to destroy you but he has no knowledge to understand what you are saying.”

    Babalakin ended the review with the following words: “According to Margaret Thatcher, the desire to win is born in most of us. The will to win is a matter of training. The manner of winning is a matter of honour. Chief had the desire to win; he trained himself to win and won honourably.”

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun was represented at the event by his deputy, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga. Also in attendance were former President Olusegun Obasanjo; the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo; the Osile of Oke-Ona Egba, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso; Justice Bola Ajibola; Chief Ayo Adebanjo; former Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment Olusegun Aganga and his wife; Senator Femi Okurounmu; Prof. Ajao Adelekan and Dr G. Soyoye, among others.

  • Best brains needed for national development, says Babalakin

    •”Elebute, an outstanding scholar”

    THE Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), has said policies must be made to attract the best brains to teach in Nigerian universities.

    This, he said, would speed up the nation’s development.

    Babalakin spoke yesterday at UNILAG’s College of Medicine during a valedictory service in honor of the founder of Hygeia HMO Limited and former Chief Medical Director of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof. Emmanuel Adeyemo Elebute (CON).

    Noting that he was inspired by the late Elebute’s CV and achievements, the lawyer said the deceased contributed extensively to the development of medicine.

    Babalakin’s words: “Prof. Elebute attended CMS Grammar School and studied medicine at Trinity College, Dublin. He won the Cunningham Medal for Anatomy and Fitzpatrick Scholarship for the best performance in all professional examinations. With all the options available to him, he chose to come back to Nigeria and contribute to the College of Medicine, UNILAG. His CV is one that we should propagate.

    “We have been having serious difficulty in attracting the best of scholars to the university system. In the era of the Elebutes and those immediately after them, there was no better thing to do than to be in the academia. Various policies have made this unattractive and until we reverse these policies and begin again to attract the best brains to teach in universities, our national development will remain stifled.”

    Stating that the late Elebute was not only an academic but a “phenomenal administrator”, the pro-chancellor said: “He was the Chief Medical Director of LUTH from 1978 -1980. Before then he had participated actively in the union of doctors, seeking to improve the welfare of doctors as President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) between 1968 and 1970.

    Read also: Oluwo to Igbo: don’t betray Yoruba’s trust, love

    “He was also a member of the editorial board of the British Journal of Surgery. What this tells us is that we can rebuild from where we find ourselves; we can create a Nigerian academy that will be the envy of all.”

    Babalakin explained that having distinguished himself as an academic, the late Elebute went further into providing medical services by establishing the Lagoon Hospital, which is “arguably one of the best medical centers in Nigeria today” and transformed it into Hygeia HMO.

    “The best way to celebrate this great man is to tell ourselves that we have the same inspiration; we have the same greatness and we will further it. We must decide to turn whatever stumbling blocks we find on our way into stepping stones for the attainment of greater heights”, he added.

    The Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, said the late Elebute was a “mentor and not a tormentor” as well as a great grammarian.

    Provost, UNILAG College of Medicine, Prof. Afolabi Lesi, described the late Elebute as “an iconic man of many parts, a brilliant academician, a disciplined master of surgical craft, a true friend and a wonderful family man”.

    According to LUTH CMD, Prof. Chris Bode, the late Elebute was an “impeccable dresser and was humble beyond belief.”

    One of the deceased’s daughters, Mrs Dupe Odunsi, who gave the vote of thanks, said the late Elebute was “a wonderful father, who put a lot of enthusiasm into building our home”.

    Also at the event were Elebute’s widow, Prof. Oyinade, and his children; Dr. Olorogun Sunny Kuku of Eko Hospital; Provost, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Prof. B. Osinusi; and Prof. Oladapo Ashiru of Mart-Life Clinic; among other eminent medical practitioners.

     

  • Quality education requires over N2.5tr yearly, says Babalakin

    UNIVERSITY of Lagos (UNILAG) Pro-Chancellor Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN) has said Nigeria needs over N2.5 trillion yearly to provide quality education at all levels.

    Babalakin spoke at the weekend at a fund-raising dinner organised by the Alumni of the College of Medicine, UNILAG. He was the chairman of the occasion.

    The lawyer and businessman explained that the Federal Government did not have enough resources to adequately fund first class education and therefore, other sources of funding must be explored.

    Babalakin said: “The College of Medicine, UNILAG, is a very good product to celebrate. But to keep the flag flying, to maintain the standards, we need substantial funding. Government alone cannot afford to fund education. To have quality education in Nigeria today at all levels, it requires between N2.5trn per year. That is close to 50% of total receipts of monies coming to this system, yet we cannot delay the funding of education.

    “We cannot give low quality education because there is no money, so we must look at all sources. We must look at governmental sources, private sources and every other source to achieve the objective of funding a first class educational system. We have all it takes in terms of personnel and basic infrastructure. What we require is substantial funding. I look forward to a day when Nigerian universities will be sufficiently robust financially; a day when government funding will only be, at best, an addition.”

    Babalakin reminded the guests of the good old days when the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, was one of the top five hospitals in the Commonwealth, which includes England, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Canada.

    He said it was possible to have that high quality of education and performance again, if we make it a priority.

    His words: “We have done it before and we can do it again. Between 1972 and 1975, UCH was the 4th to 5th rated hospital in the Commonwealth. So I don’t want you to place your ambition at the local level. I don’t want you to aim for the roof. Let’s start aiming for the sky. We have done it before. Let us have a vision that will take us out of this situation we are in; a vision that will reposition our educational system.

    “Let’s have what we had as UNILAG students in 1978. About 20% of our law class did their A-levels abroad and came back to UNILAG to read law. That was how great the faculty was. Now you have so many people who think that unless they’ve gone abroad, they’ve not started education. We have to reverse this trend and we can only do so with the right resources. With the people I see here and the commitment I see here, I have no doubt whatsoever that we are on the right part and this is the beginning.”

    Babalakin assured donors to the college that their funds would be judiciously spent and they would be invited to see the projects their funds were expended on.

    He appealed to the Lagos State government to fix the road leading to the College of Medicine, which is in a deplorable state.

    The pro-chancellor said he was impressed that the likes of Prof. Dapo Ashiru and Dr. Sunny Kuku, who left the College of Medicine a long time ago, were still actively involved in improving the college, adding that their enthusiasm was infectious.

    The Provost of the College, Prof. F.E. Lesi, said the college had pioneered many great innovations but its major challenge was funding. He explained that funding was needed for capital projects and maintenance of facilities.

    Lesi also identified space constraints as one of the college’s challenges and urged the Lagos State governor to look into it.

    At the event were philanthropist and businessman Chief Adebutu Kessington and his wife; Chief Olu Okeowo and his wife; the Olugbo of Ugboland, Oba Obateru Akinruntan and his wife; the Ajalorun of Ijebu-Ife, Oba Adesesan Oguntayo; Providus Bank Managing Director, Mr. Walter Akpani; and his wife/Managing Director, Northwest Petroleum & Gas Company, Mrs. Winifred Akpani, among others.

  • Femi-Pearse an outstanding scholar, says Babalakin

    UNIVERSITY of Lagos (UNILAG) Pro-Chancellor Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN) yesterday emphasised the need to celebrate outstanding people like the late Prof. Ayodeji Femi-Pearse in the society.

    Babalakin spoke yesterday at UNILAG’s College of Medicine, Idi-Araba, during the Commendation Service for the late Femi-Pearse, who was, at various times in his life, the provost of the College; pro-chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU); chief medical director of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH); acting vice-chancellor of UNILAG and founder of Whispering Palms Resort, Badagry.

    The lawyer described the late Femi-Pearse as “an outstanding family man, a great scholar, a phenomenal university administrator, a resourceful man and a man of dignified ancestry”.

    Explaining that the late Femi-Pearse was unanimously described as a great teacher by many people, Babalakin added: “It will be very difficult to find anybody in the academia, who has combined all the position he held during his lifetime.

    “I am very proud to be associated with him and may his great soul rest in peace. He left behind the legacies of service, dedication, teaching and research. He gave everything he had to his country. I hope we will continue to celebrate people of his pedigree.”

    Babalakin appealed to the Lagos State government to fix the road that leads to the College of Medicine, as well as the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, which leads to Whispering Palms Resort.

    UNILAG Vice-Chancellor Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe described the late Femi-Pearse as “a brilliant physician; an outstanding businessman and a philanthropist”.

    Urging people to live an impactful life like the deceased, the Provost, UNILAG College of Medicine, Prof. Afolabi Leshi, said: “Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies in us while we live.”

     

  • Babalakin to UNILAG TV: be outstanding

    The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), has urged UNILAG TV  to be the source of outstanding intellectual discourse.

    Speaking yesterday at UNILAG’s Media Center during the commissioning of the university’s Television Station, Channels 184 on Startimes, Babalakin urged the station to be a source of accurate news and a center that would provide solutions to societal problems.

    His words: “I hope this station will be the center of very interesting discussions. I am hoping that this would be a center of correct and accurate news and will begin the end of fake news in Nigeria. We are hoping that this place will bring back the vibrancy of intellectual discourse and become a great center.

    “I really look forward to you providing what is missing today. A lot of TV stations have done very well but I believe there is serious room for a TV station that will acquire the reputation of being a source of the most outstanding intellectual discourse.

    “There is a vacuum. I look forward to a situation where UNILAG TV would always bring together the leaders of opinion, the most resourceful people, the most intellectual people in every area to discuss issues.”

    The lawyer, who said UNILAG was full of brilliant people who were capable of achieving any feat, urged all departments in the institution to support the TV station in its quest to become the resource center for “serious intellectual discussions”.

    Remembering his younger years with nostalgia, Babalakin said: “When I was younger, when we had issues about verifying facts, all you had to say to win the argument was that you read it in Daily Times. I look forward to being told that once it is coming from UNILAG TV Channel 184, it is accurate.”

    The pro-chancellor, who said he was proud of the fact that UNILAG had advanced from owning a Radio Room to owning a TV Station, urged the Faculty of Theatre Arts to showcase its talents on Channel 184.

    “I really look forward to tuning to Channel 184 in and outside Nigeria,” he added.

    Babalakin also visited UNILAG’s Radio Station and Printing Press, which are also situated at the Media Center.

    The Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Toyin Ogundipe, said the TV station’s goal was to be “the most trusted news source in Nigeria by being impartial, creative, factual, credible, timely and innovative”.

    The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Development Services, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, said the center would give students an opportunity to develop their talents and acquire new skills.

    At the event were UNILAG Council members and heads of departments, among others.

     

     

  • ASUU stand-off: I stand by my decision, says Babalakin

    THE Federal Government/Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) 2009 Agreement Renegotiation Committee Chairman, Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), yesterday said he stood by his insistence on quality and well-funded tertiary education.

    Babalakin said it was partly because of his refusal to vary his decision that the ASUU described him as a tyrant.

    Universities across the country are on strike following lingering funding issues.

    On December 9, ASUU members in UNILAG accused Babalakin, who is the Pro-chancellor of the institution, of overreaching his legal limit and trying to foster discord among UNILAG staff.

    But, according to Babalakin, the government requires over N2 trillion for several years to salvage the sector, a sum the lawyer said it may not have.

    He spoke in Lagos yesterday at the public presentation of ‘Criss-crossing law and jurisprudence’, a festschrift in honour of ex-University of Ado-Ekiti Vice Chancellor and University of Lagos (UNILAG) law professor, Prof. Akindele Oyebode.

    A festschrift is a collection of writings published in honour of a scholar.

    It was organised by UNILAG Faculty of Law.

    Babalakin said: “You must all have been following the battle for the resuscitation of education in Nigeria. We have had the agreement of how it is to be achieved.

    “The unions believe that all the money must come from the Federal Government. We have made a calculation to reposition Nigerian education today and we require over N2trillion consistently for the next couple of years.

    “If the Government had N2 trillion, please bring it, but if they don’t have, don’t delay the resuscitation of the universities.”

    According to him, money must be found for education “from whatever source: public, private and alumni money. All these monies must come together for us to fund university education.

     

     

  • ASUU Lagos zone accuses Babalakin of meddling in UNILAG affairs

    The Lagos Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has accused the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr Wale Babalakin, of going beyond his constitutional powers to discard recommendations and summon meetings of staff with the aim of dividing the workers.

    A statement signed by Olusoji Sobande on behalf of the zone, faulted Babalakin for reinstating someone the Senate had recommended for sack, calling for meetings with non-academic staff, the Senate (despite its autonomy) and the Deans (scheduled for December 11, 2018).
    Babalakin chairs the Federal Government’s negotiation team on the ASUU/FGN 2009 Agreement which is currently at loggerheads with the union over the non-implementation of the agreement. The union has been on strike since last month.
    The statement reads: “For the avoidance of doubt, the Pro-Chancellor’s activities since assumption of office are best described as autocratic, meddlesome and dictatorial. For example, he not only brooks no opposition during Council meetings because of his over bloated sense of personal importance and intellectual capability.
    “He acted like an obsessed Imperial Majesty by ordering the reinstatement of the Director of Sports, contrary to the recommendations of a Senate Committee set up to investigate the various cases of malfeasance against the Director of Sports.
    “In addition, the Pro-Chancellor tyrannically ordered the seal- off of an apartment allocated to the immediate past Registrar of the University, without any humane consideration for the family of that person, who has right to respect for her person and family.”
    The statement added that the union may be forced to take action to stop Babalakin, who it described as a threat to the University.
    “In view of the foregoing illegal and untoward activities of an individual whose professional calling is the defense of law and order, but who has suddenly turned a meddlesome interloper, our Union wishes to put the general public and well-meaning Nigerians on notice that the continuation of Dr. Wale Babalakin as the Pro-Chancellor represents present and future danger to the existence of the University of Lagos. Our union shall vehemently resist this real threat to well-being of our University.
    “Consequently, should there be a breakdown of law and order on account of our resistance in the University of Lagos, whether now or in the foreseeable future, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council, Dr. Wale Babalakin SAN, should be held singularly and squarely responsible,” the statement added.

  • Education needs N2tn annually, says Babalakin

    The Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr Wale Babalakin (SAN), has said the Education sector needs N2 trillion funding annually to produce well-trained graduates who can compete favourably with their counterparts around the world.

    He said the current complaint about unemployment in the country would become history if the quality of education improves and meets international standards.

    The lawyer spoke yesterday while delivering the 20th anniversary lecture of the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, titled: Technical Education and the Industry: Bridging the Gap for National Development.

    Babalakin, who was the guest lecturer, said it was sad that no multinational company in Nigeria was headed by a Nigerian, as was the case in the past.

    The lawyer blamed the development on poor education and the “bad attitude” of many Nigerians to work.

    Saying the solution to many of Nigeria’s problems was quality education, he said the government alone cannot fund education and multiple sources of funding were required.

    The lawyer further explained that it was important for the government to increase its budget for education and urged the private sector to also contribute to education funding.

    He said quality education must never be compromised while all hands must be on deck to achieve it.

    Calling for the establishment of an Education Bank that would give loans to indigent students, Babalakin said such loans would cover tuition fees and provide for the students’ upkeep.

    According to him, a conducive environment needs to be provided for students to bring out the best in them.

    Based on the assertion by the National Universities Commission (NUC) that it would cost $3,000 per course annually to adequately train an undergraduate, Babalakin said, for example, the Education Bank can give N1 million loan to an undergraduate annually with N700,000 earmarked for his fees and N300,000 for feeding and upkeep.

    The lawyer said the loans would be repaid at no more than five per cent interest rate and would be payable within six years when the student starts working with no more than 10 per cent of his/her salary going for loan repayment.

    He said the sums paid as school fees would also be channelled towards improving tertiary institutions.

    Allaying fears that the graduates may not get jobs, Babalakin said: “We don’t have jobs because our graduates are not well trained and do not have the right attitude to work. When employers have confidence in the quality of education, they will be open to employing Nigerians and stop bringing in expatriates.”

    The lawyer called for the transfer of technology from expatriates to Nigerians in order to build the capacity of the nation’s human capital.

    He said: “If today the biggest construction company in Nigeria is Julius Berger, it is an indictment on every Nigerian who has any affiliation with technology.”

    Babalakin also called for a proper reward system, saying except in the case of minimum wage, workers should be rewarded based on their performance as against blanket payment for everyone.

    The Rector of Yaba College of Technology, Mr Obafemi Omokungbe, said the college has a centre for entrepreneurship that trains students to be self-employed and employers of labour.

    The lecture was chaired by the former Chairman of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Sir Remi Omotosho.