Kwara To Rename State Varsity After Saraki

All is now set for the Kwara State Government to name the state-owned university after the late political icon and strongman of Kwara politics, Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki who passed away on November 14, 2012. This followed the request of the Governing Council and entire members of the University community for the change of name of the institution to either Sola Saraki University (SOSU) or Abubakar Sola Saraki University (ASSU). Following Saraki’s death, there had been calls from various quarters on the government at the state and federal levels to immortalise him with the Senate on November 20, calling on the Federal Government to name the Ilorin International Airport after him. In a presentation yesterday to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed in Ilorin, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Senator Muhammed Sha’aba Lafiagi said the request was an acknowledgment of late Saraki’s contributions to educational development in the country. According to him, the University community acknowledged Dr Saraki’s “immense contribution to education through the award of scholarship to indigent students and sponsorship of several youths to universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, apart from frequent monetary intervention to parents and guardians to offset the school fees of their wards”. In his reponse, the governor assured the council and the entire state university community that the request for the change of name to either Sola Saraki University or Abubakar Sola Saraki University would be forwarded to the State House of Assembly for necessary legislative action.