ASUU Strike: Sheathe Your Swords, Ooni Appeal To Striking Lecturers, FG
Arole Oduduwa & Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II has again appealed to the Federal government and university lecturers to end the ongoing strike action in our universities in the interest of the nation.
Oba Ogunwusi who expressed his sadness over the protracted face-off while unveiling an education Trust Fund tagged “Ooni of Ife Tertiary Tuition Fund”, in his palace at Ile-Ife however expressed optimism that the strike will soon end to avoid further youth unrest.
The monarch said the Trust Fund that would gulp #500billion yearly was targeted at paying an average of #50,000 tuition fees of five million students across Nigerian varsities annually for a period of four years.
According to him, the current economic reality of the country motivated his intention to assist the students return to school, expressing displeasure over poor conditions of some of the students in tertiary institutions.
Ooni, who noted that youth emancipation and empowerment had been his focus, said that Nigeria was sitting on the keg of gun powder if urgent step was not taken to address students’ problem.
“I am putting together Education Trust Fund to support what the government is doing. “We are not all safe. We have to cut our social activities and focus more on youth empowerment. It is better to stay and fix this country than to be running out of the country.”
“We are seated on a keg of gunpowder if we do not look at how best to assist our youths, I have said it before and I will keep saying it. We all have a feel of their anger during the #EndSARS protests, we must begin to engage them productively.
“The Covid-19 has made many youths and their parents to be jobless, while the current recession in the country’s economy is another blow which has made the youths to be the most vulnerable group in Nigeria.
“Earlier before now, I have personally assisted many in paying tuition fees, vocational trainings and other empowerment initiatives but I have come up with this to bring more beneficiaries on board.” The Ooni said.
On how funds will be generated for the project, Ooni, revealed that individuals and organizations home and abroad will be contacted for donations to ensure the success of the lofty idea.