ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, has urged Nigerians not to see age as a barrier to acquiring educational dreams.
According to the Governor, one of the conditions he was given before his 2022 governorship ambition would be supported, was for him to complete his education.
Adeleke spoke at the combined 9th undergraduate and 5th postgraduate convocation ceremonies of the Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, on Sunday.
A total of 75 postgraduate and 537 undergraduate students were conferred with various degrees.
Governor Adeleke, who said that after losing the 2018 governorship election, he was subjected to the worst personality attacks and assaults.
He added that he had to leave the country to escape the attack and to complete his degree programme, after his elder brother, Dr. Deji Adeleke insisted he must complete his education, or forgo his 2022 governorship ambition.
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He said: “Dr Tajudeen Adeleke encouraged me to move ahead. Before I went into exile, he called me to a meeting where we discussed. He told me that I should look at what I have been subjected to, by those saying I was not educated. He advised me that I should go to America for studies.
“He said the only thing I can do for Osun people if I am ready to be governor is that I must get educated, I must complete my education, and without completing it, I should forget my governorship ambition.
“At my age then, I successfully re-enrolled and completed my degree programme. I am proud of that achievement and I thank my family and friends for their total support. I came back to re-contest in 2022 as a brand-new graduate. The rest is now history. What is the lesson? Our age must never be a barrier to educational pursuit. What we need is commitment and passion to succeed.”
In his remarks, Dr. Deji Adeleke, who is the founder of the university, said if Nigerians resolved to change the country for the better, it could be achieved.