Ex-minister, Borishade to be buried July 8 – Family

By Ekemini Ladejobi

Former Minister of Education, Prof. Babalola Borishade will be buried on July 8 his family said on Tuesday while announcing the funeral arrangement of the late minister.

According to a statement by Dr Lamide Borishade on behalf of the family, there will be a Day of Tributes in memory of the late Minister on July 4 at the Shehu Musa YarÁdua Center, Central Business District (CBD), Abuja from 2.00p.m.

Also, there will be a Commendation service on July 4 at his residence, 108 Ebitu Ukiwe Street, Jabi, Abuja from 7p.m. to 9p.m.

On Thursday, July 6, the funeral train will move to Usi Ekiti, Ekiti State, where the Age Grade (Elegbejegbe) Parade will hold from 10a.m. Later same day there will be a Night of Tribute by Egbe Omo Usi, at St. Andrews Primary School grounds from 7p.m to 11p.m.

On Friday, July 7, the Christian Wake Keep will take place at the Federal Science and Technical College, Usi Ekiti, at 7p.m.

The Funeral and Outing Service will hold on July 8 at 10a.m at St. Andrews Cathedral (Anglican Communion) Ekiti-Oke Diocese, Usi Ekiti, Ekiti state, while internment will follow immediately.

The late Borishade who is survived by wife, Ireti Olubunmi and children, was born in Usi- Ekiti on March 7, 1946 into the Ebi Ilotin family.

He served as minister four times, between 1999 to 2011. The electrical engineer was also a teacher and a political strategist.

Between February 2001 and May 2003, he served as the Minister of Education.

In recognition of his contributions to Education in Nigeria, Africa and the World at large, Borishade was elected the Vice- Chairman of the E9 Group of the United Nations, President of the UNESCO International Conference on Education, as well as Chairman Education for All (EFA) Forum of African Ministers of Education.

In 2004, Borishade was appointed as Minister of State, Power and Steel.

He initiated the ‘Gas to Power Project (G2P), a World Bank sponsored project designed to ensure sustained gas development and availability for power production to meet Nigerian electricity demands.

NAN