The need for private sector to collaborate with government to develop the country’s education sector dominated discourse on Thursday when businessman, philanthropist and Chairman, Caverton Offshore Support Group, Mr. Aderemi Makanjuola donated a 500-seater ultra-modern lecture theatre to the Lagos State University (LASU) to commemorate his 70th birthday.
Inaugurating the lecture theatre, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode urged the private sector, corporate organisations and individuals to join hands with government to move Nigeria’s education sector to greater height.
The event attracted dignitaries from all walks of life. They included the Pro-Chancellor of University of Lagos, Dr. Wale Babalakin; Chairman of Honeywell Group, Mr. Oba Otudeko; Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu; Pro-Chancellor of LASU, Prof. Adebayo Ninalowo; LASU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olarenwaju Fagbohun and Prof. Akin Oyebode who delivered the commemoration lecture, among others.
Governor Ambode expressed his gratitude to Mr. Makanjuola for building such exceptional edifice and said government needed more of this gesture from individuals and corporate organisations to address infrastructural deficit in the education sector. He noted that while it was a fact that education was bedrock for national development, running a quality education system is capital-intensive. He also stressed that the competing demand of different sectors of the economy and the scarce resource available, government needed support of individuals and corporate organisations to provide adequate infrastructure for public schools. “Whatever we need to do in terms of endowment we need to start thinking about legacies that we will leave behind for posterity,” he said.
Speaking at the event, the donor and Chairman, Caverton Offshore Support Group, Mr. Makanjuola said his desire to give back to society, especially LASU, was borne out of his involvement with the institution; having been part of the Governing Council since late 80s. “Education is important and I believe if we have good environment for education, students will excel. I felt that I should do something because when you help people you are helping yourself. “Again, anything for Lagos should be the best. I went to the University of Leicester in United Kingdom and I felt Lagos, Centre of Excellence deservers the best that I must give back,” he said.
Makanjuola thanked his guardian since childhood, Alhaji Jimoh Gbadamosi for his support. His virtues and values, he said, made what he is today. He thanked his wife, Yoyinsola for her support in raising the children.
On the building, he said the governor did a lot to ensure that the building was erected. The crop of lecturers is committed and it helped to complete the building within six months. Let’s continue to invest in infrastructure.
Makanjuola encouraged all to be of help to mankind and be forward-looking.
“Opportunities are there and that is why we should encourage the younger ones. I remember when we started Caverton, nobody gave us a chance. But today here we are,” he said.
In his opening prayer, Chief Missioner, Ansar-Ur-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheik Abdulraham commended the business tycoon for show of kindness.
“He is a man of means who places posterity above prosperity by investing in education. The donation of the lecture theatre to LASU is a manifestation of his marvelous worldview. This is a selfless service to humanity. I don’t know him to be a politician. He is a man who believes in today and tomorrow by investing in the youth. If we have people like Aderemi Makanjuola, there is hope in this country. God will continue to enrich him with good health,” he said.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University, Prof. Fagbohun expressed appreciation to the Lagos State government for giving the university a face-lift. The gesture, he said, boosts the confidence of both students and teachers of the institution and even made the alumni proud of this beautiful citadel of learning.
Fagbohun described Makanjuola as a benefactor and hero.
“Since the establishment of the institution, it has produced eminent people who have gone out to shape both socio-political economy of the nation. Government has changed the narrative by changing it from a perceived glorified secondary school to a university that one can be proud of. His commitment, no doubt, has opened flood gates of goodwill which we are benefitting from today from unassuming businessman and philanthropist. Today, that 500-seater lecture theatre is standing tall and it has changed the landscape of LASU. The name Remi Makanjuola has now become part of the legacy of LASU,” he said.
Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Prof. Ninalowo extolled the virtue of Caverton boss whom he described as a distinguished Nigerian with a noble gesture: humble, unassuming and gentleman.
“I respect this man for his simplicity. He is a generous man whose generosity cuts across and I am not surprised that LASU benefitted from the gesture. This is not the first lecture theatre he will be donating. He donated one in Minna, early this year; he donated one at SUMMIT University in Offa, Kwara State in memory of his late mother. This is the third one. We are indeed grateful,” he stated.
In his speech Babalakin, Chairman of Bi-Courtney Group also canvassed “more funds for higher institutions. He said it is a self-protective policy to spend more on education sector.
He said: “If we fail to develop our universities, we will face the consequence in the future. So, we must meaningfully invest in Nigerian education sector for the sake of posterity.
“Nigeria’s education sector was at a cross roads and needed more funds to perform effectively. “Education is at a cross roads today in Nigeria and if we don’t find a solution early enough, we will all regret it. If we don’t spend a lot of money on education from all sources-government, public and private, we have a long way to go.”
In his commemoration lecture entitled “Town and Gown: Giving in the Age of Scarcity”, guest lecturer, Prof. Akin Oyebode called on university management to seek other means of generating funds outside government subvention in order to have adequate funds to run their institutions.
“From every university in Nigeria from the University of Ibadan to the newest, they need more funding. So, anytime anyone thinks of university by provision of bursaries, scholarships or whatever, we are happy because we are improving the situation of our universities. Governments alone cannot undertake development projects required in our universities.
“Facilities cannot be enough. So, governments cannot do it alone. We are not in universities to make money. We are in to improve the stock of human capital. So, we need more funds in our universities,” Oyebode said.
Praising Makanjuola for his gesture, the retired professor said the likes of Makajuola are rare. “There is no way we can write the history of LASU without mentioning Aderemi Makanjuola. He is not a politician. He does not want a vote from us. But he simply built this lecture theatre to add value to LASU and humanity at large. The rich should take a cue from him to build facilities for our higher institutions.”
In his goodwill message, Oba of Lagos Rilwan Akiolu described Makanjuola as an incredible man who decided to leave a legacy.
Oba Akiolu said: “Funding of education is very important because it is the only catalyst that can change the society. Remi Makanjuola is somebody that is dear to my heart. I am not surprised at what he has done today. His father too was a generous giver. I know this will not be the end of his kind gesture in providing infrastructural projects for the education sector.”
A friend of the donor, Mr. Akin Kekere–Ekun has this to say. “Remi Makanjuola is a man of integrity, upright, honest and impeccable character who dabbled into a terrain once reserved for the expatriates, aviation.
“Today, he is a success story. Makanjuola I know is a committed man to his God, family and society. This is not the first time he would be committed to LASU. He donated money for research at Lagos Medical Institute. He is a man who is very much in line with education because he believes education is a gift of life. Beyond Nigeria, his alma mater, Leicester University in the United Kingdom had also benefitted from his kindness as he has contributed generously to the institution,” he said.
Extolling the virtue of Makanjuola, All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu said:”Mr. Remi Makanjuola is a man that I have emulated in the last 30 years. As a young university leaver, he is a man I look up to and watched how he grew his business. I learnt a lot from him as a man of impeccable integrity. A man of sound mind who has dedicated his life to God and humanity.”
