The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arc Sonny Echono, has urged Nigerians to embrace integrity, courage, compassion and dedication to public service, stressing the need to put national interest above personal considerations.
Echono spoke in Ilorin on Monday as Chairman of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) Homecoming Celebration and Investiture Ceremony, where Professor Emeritus Is-haq Oloyede and 30 other distinguished Nigerians were honoured for their contributions to education, humanity and national development.
Describing Oloyede as a man who had demonstrated hard work, integrity and commitment to service throughout his career, Echono said recognising outstanding individuals would encourage them to do more and inspire younger generations.
“We don’t tend to celebrate the right people enough. But when you celebrate individuals, you give them the impetus to do more. More importantly, you encourage others to emulate them,” he said.
Echono particularly commended Oloyede for his role in tackling examination malpractice during his tenure as Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), noting that he confronted organised networks involved in the practice despite threats.
He also praised Oloyede’s advocacy for inclusive education and support for persons with disabilities, noting JAMB’s initiatives to improve access to tertiary education for such candidates.
The Vice-Chancellor of UNILORIN, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, described Oloyede as a worthy ambassador of the institution whose contributions to scholarship, leadership and national development had brought honour to the university.
Egbewole said a professorial chair had been established in Oloyede’s honour and appealed for support for its N250 million endowment.
He also urged award recipients and ambassadors to support development projects at the university, expressing hope that projects identified by the various honourees would be completed before the next edition of the programme.
