Ogun State Governor seeks govt, private partnership on education
The Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, has called on a joint government/private sector partnership for promoting education among Nigerians.
The governor, who spoke at the inauguration of the Thames Valley College, Sagamu-Ikorodu Road, Ogun State, noted that no government the world over bore the responsibility of educating its citizens alone.
Amosun, while commending the management of the school, also described right to basic education as one of fundamental rights of every citizen.
He said, 'The level of development of any nation is also indicated by the number of its citizens that are literate and educated. Investment in education is an investment towards future development.'
Represented by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Olusegun Odubela, the governor noted that despite early contact with European education in the 1840s, the nation still faced many challenges in the sector.
Despite these challenges, the Ogun State Government, he said was committed to providing qualitative and affordable education to its citizens.
He also hailed the management of the college for providing the right environment for learning, saying it would spur the pupils to study harder.
He said, 'Your state-of-the-art infrastructure will definitely go a long way at enhancing teaching and learning in the school. There is no doubt that this new environment will inspire the pupils to study harder.'
The chairman, Board of Governors of the school, Mr. Nurudeen Fagbenro, said the school would prepare pupils for the challenges of the modern world.
Fagbenro said, 'The school offers a unique blend of Nigeria/British curricula. We believe every child is different and unique; our teacher will identify each pupil's learning pattern and employ such in teaching that pupil.
'This enables us to discover the innate ability and talent of each pupil, and we work on these to bring out the best in every child.'
A Director, Punch Nigeria Limited, Dr. Lekan Are, who spoke on the occasion, also commended the board of governors of the school for investing in the future generation of Nigerians.
He commended the Onijagba of Ijagba, Oba Samson Adesanya, for ensuring that the dream of building the school came to fruition.
He said, 'I must commend Fagbenro and other members of the governing board for investing in the future generation of the country.
'I must also commend the Ijagba community and Oba Adesanya for accommodating the school on their land. Make sure you continue to attract good things and encourage investment in the community. I mean investment from good people.'
A former deputy governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Tunde Lemo, also commended Fagbenro, stressing that the vision 'is highly commendable and worthy of emulation.'
According to him, with the college, there is now a better environment for the next generation of Nigerian leaders to excel.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Wema Bank Plc, Mr. Segun Oloketuyi, tasked the college management on providing quality education to its pupils.
He said, 'I commend the owners of the school for investing in education. Without education, a nation cannot develop. The world is changing today, likewise the technology, and I know with the facilities the school have, it will constantly be in tune with the new technology.'