Quote from Guest on March 10, 2023, 5:04 pm

Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his Western Region Dream Team.

 

Awolowo served as Premier of the Region from 1952-1959. He had remarkable success during his tenure. The visionary and economically sagacious Awo-led government had numerous achievements including the implementation of free Universal Primary Education, the establishment of Africa’s first TV Station, the construction of West Africa’s first Skyscraper(Cocoa House)and first International Stadium (Liberty)the establishment of a first-rate Civil Service, the construction of Nigeria’s first Housing and Industrial Estates(Bodija & Ikeja)etc.

The most significant of his achievements is the Free Universal Primary Education.

“In 1952 when the scheme was proposed, 381,000 children (about 30%) were enrolled in school. By 1955 when the scheme took off 811,432 children were enrolled. And the numbers continued to grow.

“The Government devoted as much as 41.2% of its 1958/59 recurrent budget to Education, one of the highest in the world at the time.

“The Western region of Nigeria, at that time, was educating more children than anywhere in Africa