>From Kwabia Owusu-Mensah, Benin city, Nigeria

Benin city, (Nigeria), Nov. 26, GNA - Otumfuo Osei Tutu 11, the Asantehene, has urged African children to take advantage of educational programmes initiated by their governments and other public spirited individuals to educate themselves in order to turn the fortunes of the continent around.

He said it was only through education that the continent could redeem itself from the shackles of poverty, disease, ignorance and other socio-economic challenges that had plagued the people. Otumfuo Osei Tutu said this when he and Mr P.J Patterson, a former Prime Minister of Jamaica, visited the Igbinedion Education Complex in Benin City, Nigeria.

The Asantehene was in the city to receive an honorary doctorate degree from the Igbinedion University, Okada, the first private university in Nigeria.

The Igbinedion Education Complex, which consists of primary, secondary and teacher training center, was established in 1990 by Sir Dr Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin and his Jamaican wife, Charie.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu said Africa needed development and it was only quality education that could help the children. He said it was his passion for education that made him to initiate a number of educational programmes to assist the children of Ghana to attain higher education.

Among the initiatives are the establishment of an education fund to assist poor children, provision of school infrastructure with assistance from the World Bank and health programmes. The Asantehene commended Sir Dr Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion and said his education initiatives were a monument he had bequeathed to the present generation.

Mr P.J Patterson stressed the need for Africa children to free themselves from mental slavery and to work hard to build upon the sacrifices their forefathers made to free the continent from colonialism.

He said they could do that through quality education and discipline. Lady Charie Igbinedion, Deputy Chairperson of the School, said the Asantehene represented a strategic link between the old and modern traditional institutions.

She described the Asantehene as a proactive king whose thoughts and actions were rooted in philanthropy and general well being of his people.