Jonathan renamed Liberty Stadium in honour of Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo

[MyInfoStride]

I have just returned from Ogun state where I had the great privilege to rename the Liberty Stadium after the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. The stadium will henceforth be known as the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium.

Some may ask why I did this? I did it because as I pondered and reflected during the weeks leading up to Nigeria's 50th anniversary, I realised that amongst the accomplishments we have garnered in the last 50 years include having some of the greatest thinkers on earth like the late great Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the proof of their great thoughts lies in the legacy they left behind.

Many youths may not recall the labours of our heroes past and this is one reason why I want our educational system to revive and promote the study of Civics and Ethics as a part of Social Studies in our Primary schools curriculum. But let me here inform our youths that Chief Awolowo had a vision for them when he conceptualised and put into practise the Free Universal Primary Health and Education project even before Nigeria's independence. That singular action lifted an untold number of Nigerians out of poverty and marked a turning point in the social development of Nigeria helping in no small measure in providing the skilled man power we used to build our industrial and manufacturing base as well as our citadels of learning all over Nigeria.

I was recently at the celebration of SilverBirds 30th anniversary and heard speakers there talk about the power of television as a means of positive mass communication and this is true, however, we must remember that this man I chose to celebrate in Ogun State, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, conceived of and built the first television station in Africa, an achievement that put Nigeria on the map positively.

But the specific reason why I chose to rename the Liberty Stadium after Chief Obafemi Awolowo is because he built the first ever stadium in West Africa, in Ibadan, Nigeria which used to be known as the Liberty Stadium but which after Friday the 12th of November is to be known as The Obafemi Awolowo Stadium.

We must celebrate our own heroes and by so doing encourage the youth to aspire to be like them knowing that their efforts will not be in vain. It is elementary knowledge that whatever you appreciate increases in value. And I, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, choose to appreciate our heroes irrespective of region and religion. I also recommend this attitude to all and sundry so that when our youth sing our National Anthem and say "to serve with heart and might one nation bound in freedom, peace and unity" they can see that being lived out in the lives of those of us who are priviledged to serve our nation.

- GEJ
Source: When We Recognise Greatness We Will Replicate It | Facebook.