The Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, Professor Olarewaju Oloyede, has described education as the bedrock of development of any society appealing to government at all levels to place it above other priorities.
Prof Oloyede made this known in his keynote address at the 70th Anniversary of the Ijebu Muslim College, held at Ijebu-Ode on Monday with the topic: ‘Investing in Education for the Future of Youths’.
According to the JAMB boss, “The youths, without an iota of doubt, are the hope of any country for a sustainable future. To a large extent, the success and failure of communities and nations are directly proportional to the resourcefulness of the youth in bringing about the desired progress”.
In his own words, “Given that there is fluidity in the relationship between the past, the present and the future, there is an urgent need to draw strength from the past to reinforce the present and reclaim the future.
“It is therefore important to develop a cosmopolitan mindset on the philosophy of education that is appropriate for our society with a view to making youth realise that education is more than the accumulation of degrees or speaking foreigner languages”, he added.
The Principal, Ijebu Muslim College Senior School, Alhaji Salau in his speech, said that the moment brings back all the fond memories of his days in the school with achievements recorded so far which needed to be celebrated.
Said he: “Celebrating seventy years of Ijebu Muslim College is definitely a significant milestone, especially one filled with a long history of monumental achievements and outstanding performances”.
“Our achievements wouldn’t have been registered, but for the State Government which has created an enabling environment to all stakeholders to intervene in the development of education in Ogun State”.
In his address, the National President, Engr. Kayode Shote, also pointed out that the event is one of the activities lined up to honour, celebrate and appreciate the efforts of members of Ijebu Muslim Community who were pioneers of western education for Muslim youths in Ijebuland and thus the founding fathers of the College.
“There is no gain saying the fact that the 70th Anniversary is a celebration of excellence and the hallmark of success story of an oak that has withstood the test of time and diverse challenges in the nation’s education sector”.
He added that the College remains a cosmic powerhouse of knowledge and fountain of wisdom for the past, present and future generations of homo sapiens who are lucky to have passed through it to enjoy qualitative education.
Dr. Wale Babalakin, the chief launcher congratulated and commended the founding fathers for establishing the College in Ijebu-Ode and also the members of IMCOSA for marking the anniversary with landmark results, challenging the school authorities to rest their focus on the future.
The event had in attendance many distinguished personalities including one of the old students of the institution, Senator Gbenga Kaka.
