Information and culture minister Lai Mohammed has recalled how academic prowess, rather than religion or ethnicity, served as the criterion for admission into federal unity schools during his days as a student.
Mr Mohammed made the comments on Saturday in Abuja at a book presentation and 75th birthday celebration of Dr Bamigboye Ogunbiyi.
Mr Ogunbiyi is a renowned obstetrician and gynaecologist from Ilofa, Kwara State who married retired Supreme Court justice Clara Ogunbiyi, who hails from Borno.
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Messrs Ogunbiyi and Mohammed are both Alumni of Federal Government College, Keffi, though the former is the senior.
“From the book, we learnt that the celebrant attended Federal Government College (FGC), Keffi and that is why I am not surprised he ended up marrying Justice Clara from Borno.
“In Keffi, we were taught at a very young age that this country is one and the same and that religion, ethnicity and social status do not matter but rather one’s academic prowess,’’ he said.
Mr Mohammed stressed that in his time, only the very best from the 13 Provinces in the North made it to the college and not by any other consideration.
