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BY TEMITAYO OLUMIDE AYODELE
The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, has stated that the present administration’s massive investment in the education sector is aimed at ensuring that all school children in the State are adequately equipped with skills for a productive future.
Hamzat, speaking virtually on the second day of the Y2022 Lagos Education Summit held at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels and Suites with the theme: “Creating a Sustainable Fit-For-Purpose Education Model”, added that the implementation of the State government’s ‘Project Zero’ has ensured the re-enrollment of out-of-school children across the State.
He said: “The essence of our focus on education in Lagos is to ensure that every child that attends school comes out better, more enhanced. This is not just about statistics but the practicality of what we are doing as a government in Lagos State. The pertinent goal is how do we bring back more children to school and give the already enrolled ones the best going forward”.
The Deputy Governor also revealed that through the various programmes and policies of the present administration, primary school pupils are now into coding to sharpen their skills and improve their critical thinking ability for the future.
“Creating a sustainable Fit-For-Purpose education model is a good thing and what we expect from this Summit are practical steps that can be taken to raise the bar in terms of what we need to do again to further improve the education sector in Lagos State”, he added.
On her part, the Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU), Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, represented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration, LASU), Professor Adenike Boyo, commended the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Barrister Tokunbo Wahab, for repositioning tertiary education in Lagos given that the development of any society is hinged on quality education.
Also speaking, the wife of the Olu of Warri, Olori Atunwatse III, stated that relevant stakeholders in the public and private sectors must consider it vital to allocate adequate resources to meet modern trends in learning, particularly at the primary level of education, advising that concerted efforts must be geared towards providing quality and affordable education to solve Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges.
Emphasising that early childhood education is essential, Atunwatse III pointed out the need for a tenacious implementation of education policies by all levels of government in the country.
In her contribution, the Finnish Ambassador for Education, Marjaana Sall, stated that existing partnerships between Finland and Lagos State must be strengthened, noting that high-quality education is a right and not a privilege in Finland.
In her words: “Education is free from pre-primary to tertiary level. Our goal is to maximise the potential of children so teachers need to be valued. I look forward to more collaborations between Finland and Lagos State in terms of education, science and innovation,” she said.
Panelists at the second day of the Summit include the Special Adviser to the Governor on SDGs, Mrs. Solape Hammond; Co-founder and CEO of Nova Pioneer Education Group, Mr. Chinezi Chijoke; Senior Education Specialist of World Bank Nigeria, Dr. Tunde Adekola and Chairperson, Conference of Private Schools in Lagos, Dr. Femi Ogunsanya among others.
