Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has described education as a powerful tool for breaking the chains of slavery, poverty, and social oppression, saying it remains the foundation of a just and progressive society.
The governor made this known on Thursday at the inauguration of Minaret University, Ikirun, and the investiture of its pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdullah Abdur-Rahman. Adeleke said his administration is building on the enduring educational legacy of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, which prioritised mass education as a means of empowering citizens to resist tyranny, impunity, and lawlessness.
Commending the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, founders of the university, Adeleke said the establishment of Minaret University and other private institutions would further strengthen Osun State’s academic landscape and governance standards.
“With Minaret and other emerging private institutions, alongside existing colleges and universities, Osun will continue to advance in scholarship and good governance. Our sons and daughters will keep making the state proud locally and internationally. Osun will never retrogress; the clock of progress will continue to tick in our favour,” he said.
The governor stressed that a well-educated population is stronger than those who rely on brute force, recalling how Awolowo positioned the old Western Region for national leadership through broad access to education. He added that the legacy was expanded during the Bola Ige administration through free education and later sustained in Osun State to produce an enlightened and active citizenry.
In his address, the Chancellor of Minaret University, Barrister Azeez Alatoye, said the institution was established at a critical time when Nigeria is facing deep social, economic, and moral challenges. He noted that the university is designed to confront these issues through quality teaching, relevant research, innovation, and community engagement.
Alatoye announced that the university would commence academic activities with programmes in Data Science, Information Technology, Computer Science, Cyber Security, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, Marketing, Logistics, and Supply Chain Management.
He described Minaret University as a citadel of excellence founded on knowledge, discipline, moral uprightness, and service to humanity—values globally associated with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at. Addressing pioneer students, the Chancellor urged them to uphold discipline, pursue excellence, and help shape the culture of the institution.
“You are custodians of history. You carry the responsibility of setting standards for this great institution,” he said.
Speaking after his investiture, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdullah Abdur-Rahman, said his vision is to build a world-class, entrepreneurial, inclusive, and globally competitive university that will drive intellectual and manpower development for sustainable socio-economic growth.
He called for strong collaboration among university management, staff, students, and other stakeholders, stressing that collective effort and democratic governance would be key to achieving excellence.
“No single individual can determine the success of a university. Through teamwork, open administration, and synergy among all stakeholders, Minaret University will reach enviable heights,” the VC said.
