Hope Not Lost on Nigeria –Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has urged Nigerians to be hopeful, saying that insecurity and socio-economic crises in the land was not enough to lose hope. Obasanjo said this on Monday after his conferment with the honorary Doctoral Degree of Science at the maiden convocation of the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, commenced operation in January, 2010. He said: “I know that those who are thinking that Nigeria has no future will today have a change of heart. This is because one person, Chief Afe Babalola, has been able to make a difference in the field of education. This is an indication that hope is not lost on Nigeria. “The other time, I heard Chief Afe Babalola saying that education is the best instrument to fight poverty. But I want to add that it remains the best instrument to sustain good governance and democracy.” Others who were honoured with honorary doctoral degrees on the occasion were the Deputy Director, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Dr. Lalla Aicha Ben Barka; Minister of Interior, Abba Moro and an industrialist, Tunde Yusuf. Dignitaries at the event include former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Alfa Belgore, Governor Kayode Fayemi, represented by his deputy, Prof. Modupe Adelabu, representative of Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State; former governors Ayodele Fayose and Segun Oni and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi among others.