Teachers of Methodist Primary School and II, and Saviour Apostolic Primary School both at Ekotedo area of Ibadan, Oyo State could not contain their excitement when a Foundation, Ekotedo Onireke Community Development Foundation donated over two thousand units of exercise books to the schools.
Speaking on behalf of the State Government at the book presentation on Wednesday October 20 at both schools premises shortly after the presentation, the Special Assistant on Community Relation to Governor Seyi Makinde, Honourable Olufemi Josiah said that “our transition to civil rule is not complete until all our children have access to not just education but quality education.
Josiah noted that the present administration under the leadership of Governor Makinde placed high premium on quality education which is why it is investing heavily in the education sector in order to ensure students from Oyo state would be able to compete favorably with others from across the world.
Josiah who doubles as the vice president of the Foundation maintained that the gesture of book presentation was a compliment to the efforts of the state and local governments in making free and quality education accessible to every child in the state especially within the Ekotedo Community.
He stressed that the motive behind the donation was to give back to the community in form of a social responsibility from where all members of the Foundation were raised as little children saying that community development should not be left in the hands of government alone.
He therefore, charged all other notable and privileged persons from Ekotedo Community and other parts of the state to form a sort of platform to interact especially on ways to give back to their various communities and further develop the grassroots stressing that such move will be a source of inspiration to the little children and motivation to the teachers training the children.
“We decided to come together as a way of showing appreciation for the benefits God has given us through this community. I, that I’m standing here attended this same Saviour Apostolic Primary School and we discovered that as a way of exhibiting social justice must be given access to quality education because it is a fundamental right.
“We equally discovered that our transition into civil rule is not complete until every child has access to not just education but quality education and good enough, the government of Oyo state under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde has made free and quality education a cardinal policy of this present administration.
“And our own way of supporting this laudable policy is what we are all here to witness today and we can assure you that much more will follow in due time.” Hon. Josiah said.
In his remark, the Executive Chairman of Ibadan North West Local Government, Hon. Ramon Adepoju said his administration at the local government is doing everything to ensure that every child gets access to free and quality education with the desire to greatly reduce the number of out of school children in the local government.
Adepoju commended the Foundation for the gesture describing it as highly commendable and recommended for others to emulate in order to collectively development the local community adding that community development is everybody’s business.
He also encouraged the pupils at both primary schools to stay very focused on their studies stressing that quality education is a sure licence to a secured future noting that bad peer influence leads to self destructive end urging the pupils to shun all forms of vices that could jeopardize their future.
The Baale of Ekotedo, Chief Jaye Ayorinde who led the Ekotedo traditional council to the event commended Governor Makinde for his commitment towards provision of free and quality education for all regardless of tribe, state of origin or any other form of discrimination.
Baale Ayorinde maintained that Ekotedo is notable for breeding great and notable personalities across the state and nation among which he mentioned former governor of Oyo state, Late Chief Bola Ige, designer of the Nigerian Flag, Chief Taiwo Akinkunmi, and many others including Hon. Josiah, Hon. Adepoju, and others both in Nigeria and overseas.
He added that Ekotedo community alongside other Foundation and charity organizations have given scholarship to brilliant students in the past to study to higher institution level and even sponsored abroad for overseas education when there was proof of lack of financial capacity by parents of such brilliant students urging the pupils to remain focused as the community is committed to supporting education brilliancy in the community.
Speaking earlier, Head Teachers of both Methodist Primary School and Saviour Apostolic Primary School, Ekotedo, in their separate remarks said that Governor Makinde remains in their books the best Governor Oyo State has had since the return to democratic government in 1999.
The head teachers and other teaching staffs who could not contain their excitement said the books presented will go a long way in boosting the morals of the pupils and also reduce the financial commitments noting that the gesture was great a motivation to all management staffs of the schools as it indicated that their efforts are recognized outside the four walls of the schools.
Other members of the Foundation and too officials from the local government present at the book presentation include Ayodeji Akintola,
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