A former Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Dr Olawale Idris, who passed on in early hours of yesterday, has died of stroke.
Aged 78, Idris battled stroke in the last 10 years before he gave up the ghost at his Lekki Phase One residence, his wife, Muyinat, revealed.
“I can’t believe that my husband is gone, we were still together in the early hours of today and I never knew he was going to leave me for eternity.
“My husband is 78 years old and we have been planning big for his 80th birthday; I never knew he won’t wait till then.
“I am speechless, I don’t know what to say again but I will surely miss him,” she said in an emotion-laden comment.
Idris, who was born on July 6, 1940, attended Lagos Primary School, 1947-54; Ahmaddiyya College, Agege, 1955-60; London School of Economics and political Science, 1962.
The deceased also had a Doctorate Degree (1971), LL.B. (Hons), LL.M. and was at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Lagos, 1968- 72; Legal Officer, National Oil Corporation, 1972-76; Member: Nigerian Bar Association; Member, Nigerian Constitution Drafting Committee and the Electoral Law Committee.
He was appointed Commissioner for Education by the first civilian Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande in 1979 and was charged with the implementation of the UPN administration’s priority programme — free and compulsory education at all levels in Lagos State.
May his soul rest in peace. I remembered him very well in the early 80’s when he was Commissioner for Education in Lagos state. He asked me what he can do for me; I said that I wanted admissions for my two sibling. He obliged me of my choices. I will never forget him. May he kind soul rest in perfect peace.