As
revealed in a statement by the Director, Media and Public Affairs,
palace of the Ooni, Moses Olafare on Wednesday; unveiling the project
at his Ile Oodua Palace, Ile-Ife, the Ooni pedestalled his passion for
the huge project on the current economic downturn in the country and
the reality of its effects on the poor masses, hence his resolve to
assist the students to return to school.
It
stated that the Ooni expressed his displeasure over poor conditions of
some of the students in tertiary institution, as he declared that an
average of N50, 000 tuition was targeted for about five million students
for a period of four years.
The
African foremost monarch, according to the release, said the payment of
tuition for five million students would gulp N500 billion yearly.
The
Ooni noted that youth emancipation and empowerment had been his focus.
He said 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.
“We
have between seven to ten million of them in Federal Tertiary
Institutions and they need to pay close to N500 billion in tuition fees
in January, 2021.
“But
how would this demand be met when the bulk of the parents of these
students are petty traders, peasant farmers and other average Nigerian
parents who might not be able to get the needed fees to return to
school. That is the reason behind the project.
“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, the Spiritual Head
of Oduduwa Race worldwide revealed that individuals and organizations
home and abroad will be contacted for donations to ensure the success of
the lofty idea.
“I
am appealing to all our people to let us come together and achieve this
for our youths. I am promising that everything will be counted for to
the last kobo while details of beneficiaries would be verifiable for
accountability.” Ooni Adeyeye added.
On
the prolonged Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike, he
assured that it would soon be called off and it shall be for the best of
Nigerians, saying Nigerian traditional rulers are fully aware of the
talks ongoing between ASUU and the Federal Government to end industrial
action.
“You
will recall that we traditional rulers from across the 36 states of the
recently held a meeting in Abuja on the state of the nation the
communique of which I submitted to President Buhari in my capacity as
Co-chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, on
behalf of others.
“It
is part of it and I wish to assure you that the Federal Government and
ASUU are almost done resolving the grey areas.” Ooni Ogunwusi added.
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