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Ekiti Information Commissioner Solicits Old Students’ Support towards Schools’ Devt
Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
Ekiti State Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun has called on old students to give back to their alma mater to support efforts of government at ensuring sustainable development of the schools.
He said this at the inauguration of a 25-member Central Planning Committee by the old students association of Igbemo Community Comprehensive High School, Igbemo Ekiti (ICCHSOSA) to pilot the programmes for the school’s 50th anniversary tagged the great re-union, to launch a N200 million Old Students Vocational Centre.
Olatunbosun added that providing support and assistance to their former schools would help guarantee the future of coming generations.
Olatunbosun, who is the head of the newly inaugurated committee, reiterated the state government’s commitment to providing conducive environment for teaching and learning in schools towards achieving a sustainable qualitative and quantitative standard of education in the state. He said that the government is ready to partner interested individuals, corporate organisations and multinationals among others to achieve the desired goals.
He noted that there is no school in the state out of the 203 secondary schools and three special schools, six technical schools and over 900 primary schools that have not been touched by government’s interventions under various projects, including the World Bank supported AGILE, IDEAS etc.
The commissioner highlighted some of government’s interventions and achievements in the education sector to include massive improvement of infrastructure with construction of new structures and renovation of old ones, as well as the provision of learning tools, such as computer systems and laboratory equipment in all schools in the state.
According to him, the administration has also provided specialised services for children with disabilities, such as occupational, physical, and speech therapy while teachers’ welfare is prioritised as part of efforts at improving the education sector.
“The recent elevation of graduate primary school teachers to grade level 16 is still fresh in our minds while car and housing loans are provided to make life easier for the teachers.
“Apart from provision of bursary awards and scholarships to students, the Oyebanji administration also makes conditional cash transfer to indigent students.”
“All these interventions have made schooling attractive and accessible for all school-age children without bias to their background or financial status which has led to a remarkable reduction in the number of out-of-school children in the state.”
He pledged on behalf of other members of the committee, to work assiduously towards ensuring a successful and fruitful anniversary.
Members of the committee include Alhaji Kola Bakare as secretary; Prof. Afolabi Ojo as alternate chairman; Hon. Joseph Anifowose as publicity secretary; Mrs Becky Jegede (national treasurer); Otunba Sunday Akingbade (national secretary) in charge of mobilisation, among others.
Four major sub-committees were also inaugurated and the oath of offices was administered by Olatunbosun. The committees are programmes, events and logistics; marketing, publicity and alumni engagements; finance/funds raising and security, safety/welfare
Earlier, the Global President of the old students association, Pastor (Mrs) Atinuke Ayeni who inaugurated the committee, to thanked Olatunbosun for accepting to lead the committee and charged all other members to work diligently for the success of the programmes ahead.