Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has commended renowned lawyer Afe Babalola, SAN, for donating an ICT centre to the St. Bakhita Center, Catholic Diocese of Sokoto.
Obasanjo, speaking at the commissioning of the facility — which includes 250 ICT systems and 50 tablets for children — recalled his past visits to Sokoto to inaugurate the Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Basic Education (UBE) programmes.
“Despite our differences, no one can fully develop himself or herself unless educated. This centre is a model of what we should be doing irrespective of religion, culture or language,” Obasanjo said.
He warned that Nigeria’s 24 million out-of-school children could become potential recruits for insurgent groups if left unattended. He further cautioned that by 2050, when the population is projected to reach 400 million, today’s challenges would pale in comparison if education gaps persist.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, described the ICT centre as the second major project by the Catholic Diocese after a clinic built under former Delta Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan. He said his presence at the event underscored that the facility was for all residents, stressing:
“Projects like this are what we need to show the world how we live peacefully, instead of unsubstantiated claims of religious genocide. I thank Afe Babalola for his benevolence and pray that the Bakhita ICT Centre improves the fortune of Sokoto.”
The host, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, said the project was the diocese’s modest contribution to Sokoto’s development. He added that the centre would also serve as a JAMB computer-based testing centre, among other uses.
Governor Ahmed Aliyu, represented by his Chief of Staff Alhaji Aminu Dikko, acknowledged the contributions of Obasanjo, the Sultan, and Bishop Kukah to national unity. He reiterated that ICT plays a vital role in enhancing job opportunities.
