July 5: A Free Education Flashback, By Odia Ofeimun
“What was it all about?” And, there were many who still could not believe it when they were told that the procession was a celebration of the free primary education scheme for which the Action Group government had been campaigning, for over three years, and for which children all over the Western Region were to start registration on that very day.
On July 5, 1954, a procession of about three thousand people, led by regional ministers of state and attended by four orchestras – I. K. Dairo’s Orchestra, Ibadan String Circle Orchestra, Central Temple’s Orchestra and Ayandola Tijani Apola Band, was on the march from the British Council area of Dugbe in Ibadan towards Mapo Radio Square at the other end of the city.