Date: 2017-05-18

About N50 million was realised at the launching of an educational foundation floated in honour of the late political icon of Kwara State, Senator Olusola Saraki.

Speaking at the event in Ilorin on Wednesday, the founder and convener of the educational foundation, tagged, Sola Saraki Educational foundation, Ladi Hassan, a former Commissioner of Health in the state, said the foundation was meant to promote medical education and researches and fund treatment of some diseases.

The launching, held alongside the commissioning of the Foundation’s house in Ilorin was graced by political associates of the late politician who was a medical doctor by profession.

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, who on behalf of the state government donated N15million at the occasion, said that Saraki contributed immensely to the development of the state.

He described the late politician as a selfless leader, who used his resources to promote the course of humanity and advised that he be emulated by his associates.

The State House of Assembly and deputy Senate minority whip, Senator Biodun Olujinmi, who was the co-launcher donated N10million each.

The speaker of the House, Ali Ahmad while announcing donation of the House said though Saraki was not the richest in the state when he was alive he "had a heart of assistance which distinguished him from others."

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki who was a son of the late politician assured the foundation, through his representative at the occasion, Abubakar Baraje, the former Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), of a consistent support.

The founder of the foundation, Hassan explained that the foundation planned to award scholarship to medical students across universities in Nigeria irrespective of state of origin and to do same at University of London where Saraki graduated in 1962.

He said academic research in the field of medical science would be funded, professorial chairs would be endowed in medical discipline while a specialist hospital on treatment of heart related diseases would be established in the state.