The huge resources committed to developing the education sector by the present administration in Ogun State is meant to achieve meaningful and qualitative educational service that would make students be the best among their peers in the country.The State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun gave this explanation this today when he received a delegation from the World Bank during a courtesy call on him in his office in Abeokuta.
Represented by his deputy, Prince Segun Adesegun, Governor Amosun said his administration places a high premium on educational development, emphasising that colossal amount of money was spent on procurement of books and other accessories as well as the construction of world class model schools and expressed optimism that products of the schools would be able to compete favourably in any part of the world. "Education is key and that is why we place high premium on it. We are building model schools to meet world standard. We are doing this so that those who pass out from these schools can compete with the best in the world" Amosun explained.
He noted that the State has about 1480 primary schools, 474 secondary schools, numerous skills acquisition schools and 10 public and privately-owned universities, pointing out that this high figure notwithstanding, government still needed to build more schools to accommodate the rapid increasing population which the State was having owing to the influx of residents from other States.While thanking the team for the visit, Governor Amosun affirmed that the State had also been providing enabling environment for genuine investors especially in the education sector and charged the delegation to study to develop a deep knowledge of the State's educational policy and come up with practicable solutions to challenges facing the sector in the State.
Welcoming the delegation earlier, Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Barrister Segun Odubela said the State approached the World Bank to help in assessing the education sector with a view to rendering necessary advice and assistance to move the sector forward.He said that the State would still need to do more in the area of infrastructure and capacity building, but added that it had developed a strategic plan that would shore up the sector for better performance, expressing hope that the two-day visit would afford the team an opportunity to measure facilities on ground and offer useful suggestions on improvement.
In his remarks, leader of the delegation, Dr. Tunde Adekola assured that as a global financial institution, the World Bank has the capacity to collate information and data from other parts of Nigeria and link the State with others with a view to leveraging on the education sector.Dr. Adekola, a Senior Education Specialist and Task Team leader of Eko Project counseled that the strategic plan of the State government should be made all inclusive, affirming that the team would hold talks with key players in the sector and discover areas where its inputs would be needed for better performance.
Via: Ogun State Government - Official Press Release
It's good some Nigerian states are already realising how important Education is. That's a good move for our country.