By Clifford Ndujihe, Olasunkanmi Akoni & Wahab Abdullah
LAGOS—FROM the lips of eminent Nigerians came eulogies for the country’s foremost educationist, Prof. Aliyu Babatunde Fafunwa, who died in Abuja on Monday.

Among those who extolled the virtues of the former Education minister were Senate President David Mark, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara State, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirant in Lagos, Dr. Ade Dosunmu.

A number of  groups  also extolled Fafunwa’s virtues. They include the Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC; Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates Association, UNIFEMGA; Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria, MMPN; Muslim Ummah of South West  Nigeria, MUSWEN; and Muslim Consultative Forum, MCF among others.

Describing Fafunwa’s death as “a  huge loss to the nation,” Mark said he was a foremost educationist and effective manager of human and material resources.

A cross section of the Late Prof Babs Fafunwa's Family during the burial in Ikoyi Lagos. The Burial ceremony of Late Prof Babatunde Fafunwa former Minister of education took place. Photo: Diran Oshe

The Senate president, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, condoled with Fafunwa’s immediate family, the government and people of Lagos State.

He recalled Fafunwa’s passion and commitment to educational development of the nation when he introduced the 6-3-3-4 system of education into the school curriculum, noting that the late educationist believed in functional and qualitative education needed for the development of the nation.

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Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola said that both as a secondary school and later university teacher, Prof. Fafunwa gave a lot to the education system, a commitment which was acknowledged by his elevation to the exalted position of Federal Minister of Education.

He said: “His most impactful years of service to his fatherland witnessed innovative developments like the 6 -3- 3- 4 System of Education which sought to rescue the nation’s education system then on a downward slide.”.

Expressing shock at Fafunwa’s death, Atiku, in a statement by his Campaign Organisation said the late education policy maker was a respected scholar and administrator who left indelible marks on Nigeria’s educational development.

He said: “Professor Fafunwa was a remarkable man. I share his passion for education. I’m well aware of the difference he made in the lives of many people as an education policy expert and teacher. He was a pioneer in several areas of education in this country.”

In like manner, Kwara State Governor, Saraki, said Fafunwa’s demise was as a monumental loss and a major set back for the Nigeria’s education sector.

He said: “With the death of this icon, no doubt, education sector in Nigeria has lost a colossus who worked tirelessly throughout his lifetime for the development of the sector. There is no way today in Nigeria that the history of education can be successfully written without a mention of Prof. Fafunwa. That in itself is a great legacy.”

On his part, Dosunmu said Fafunwa made his mark as a great Nigerian and even died in active capacity at old age to underscore how well he loved this nation. He said Fafunwa’s contributions were well documented and would continuously be a reference point in the nation’s history, adding  “we will surely miss his wise counsel as a foremost and seasoned educationist. We will never forget him.”

MURIC’s Director, Dr Ishaq Akintola, said Fafunwa was an author of several books. He said: “His magnum opus, History of Education in Nigeria, remains primus inter pares among works of history sought after by researchers. His educational career reached its peak when he was appointed minister of education during the military era. He was a Muslim leader of repute, a pious devotee of the Islamic faith and a humanist of the highest order.”

UNIFEMGA in its statement signed by Alhaji Ahmed Popoola, National President and Abdur-Rahman Balogun, National P.R.O, said as a teacher in the then University of Ife, Prof Fafunwa was a great mentor to many students and educationists.

The statement said: “As a religious leader, he devoted his life fully to Allah, that till his breath his last, he was grand patron, Trustee, adviser, President and founder to several religious groups and associations both in Nigeria and abroad.”

MCF in a statement by Malam Hassan Hammanyaji, acting secretary, called on all political office seekers ahead 2011 elections to honour Fafunwa by making education their topmost priority.

Pained by the demise of the elder-statesman, MUSWEN in a statement signed by Prof Daud Noibi, Executive Secretary, called on all Nigerians especially Muslims to pray for the repose of its late President.
Noibi said the whole South West Muslims and indeed Muslim Community in Nigeria would miss Fafunwa’s wealth of experience, dedication, commitment, humility, intellectual discourse and fatherly role in the region.

An Education consultant, Dr Sulleiman Adediran said, “as minister of education, Fafunwa stimulated the setting up of the 6-3-3-4 system and leveraged the visibility of African education systems in UNESCO education.”

Adediran said Fafunwa would be remembered as the father and mentor of young and old educationists in the country but regretted the non-implementation of his good educational policy by successive governments in the country.