SIR: Outgoing Vice Chancellor of the Premier University, University of Ibadan, Professor Isaac Folorunso Adewole’s brilliant articulation of his thoughts while responding to the questions by Senators has left to one in doubt that President Muhammadu Buhari has not made a mistake by seeking out the Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology to be part of his change agents. It was a revealing engagement between the nominee (now confirmed) and members of the senate as the education and health sectors were dissected.
Adewole did not only show the magnitude of the problem, but as a scientist, he offered what needed to be done to bring the nation out of the current peculiar mess. His over an hour embodied not only the problems but ways of addressing the identified gaps in our education and health sectors. His narratives painted the picture of a nation with leadership that abdicates responsibilities to her people. Coming to serve in a government that made him ‘fly out’ of the country when he led a nationwide strike in the health sector 30 years ago, Adewole submitted that ‘I must regrettably say that not much has changed but we can better the situation, we can work together and there is a ray of hope in the horizon’.The problem of chronic under-funding of the education sector was discussed by the award-winning university administrator. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had embarked on a strike in 2013 to protest infrastructural decay, harsh working environment, and ill-motivated staff among others. Major issues on health at the screening revolved around abortion, inter-professional rivalry in the health sector and what Professor Adewole described as looming danger in cancer epidemic owing to the demographic transition and almost inactive lifestyle of Nigerians. Senators competed to ask questions on cancer. They got more than what they wanted and should now resolve to put money in health for the building of national cancer centre and revitalization of the Health system.
It is obvious that so many things have been deliberately neglected by previous governments in health and education sectors. Health tourism is growing and people are losing confidence in our educational system. The Senate should go beyond saying Professor Adewole is a qualified man for the job but must play their part by voting 26 percent UNESCO benchmark for funding education. It is a disservice to the nation if National Assembly members and the leadership do not consume our education and/or jet-out for treatment in a country that cares for her people due to the distrust they have in the two sectors. While I have no doubt that Professor Adewole will deliver in either health or education ministry, he needs to be given all the necessary support (financial, environment, political etc) to work for Nigerians particularly the masses who are usually the victims of bad governance.
- Dr Oludayo Tade,
University of Ibadan.
The nation