From Taiwo Oluwadare, Ibadan
The Federal Character Commissioner from Oyo State, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela, has advised Nigerian youths to desist from money rituals that have been the order of the day.
The former chairman of the Ido Local Government and State Commissioner for Education in the state, gave this advice on Friday while receiving an award for his meritorious public service from the Abadina College Old Students’ Association (ACOS).
He said, “When I was Oyo State Commissioner for Education, we mandated all secondary students to recite ‘Apalara’ in school every day to remind them always that they must be hard-working and face their studies in school to avoid all the shortcuts youths of today take to make money.
“This is because the perception of today’s youths results in trending news of ritual killings. There is no other shortcut to making money than to face your studies. Those who are doing rituals are wasting their time. Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man—how many people did he kill? Don’t let anybody waste your life and time to kill for rituals”, Olowofela warned.
“I didn’t attend Abadina College, but I received the award, and I was happy because when we started the School Governing Board (SGB) during Senator Abiola Ajimobi’s regime, the School Governing Board and Old Students Association in Abadina College did so well.”
He therefore dedicated the award to the late Governor Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi. According to him, the late governor chose him to serve in his government as Commissioner for Education, a reason the cordial relationship existed that earned him the award.
Olowofela also appreciated the incumbent state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, for deeming it fit to name the first technical university in Ibadan after his predecessor.