‘Don’t return Nigeria to nanny state’

The Chairman, Nation newspaper Editorial Board, Mr. Sam Omatseye, has warned Nigerians not to elect leaders that would return the country to the nanny state during the 2019 general election.

Speaking yesterday at the Igbinedion University Okada while delivering the 16thConvocation lecture titled ‘Epistocracy: The Challenge of a Knowledge Democracy’, Omatseye said a nanny state berthed on stomach infrastructure which does not lead to progress.

According to him, Nigeria needed to return to a republic of the enlightened, which Chief Obafemi Awolowo started by making education compulsory up to the university level.

He noted that the resources for free university education would be available if there is a will to do it.

Earlier, the Deputy Chancellor of the university, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, had urged governments at all levels to provide jobs for young graduates or create an environment for skilled graduates to excel.