As part of ways to set Ekiti State on a faster pace of economic renaissance, the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, has solicited robust backing for qualitative education to make the youths acquire the requisite skills to operate under a 21st century economy.
To actualise the lofty dream, Mrs Afuye, called for a concerted efforts by the Alumni Associations, corporate bodies and individuals, coalescing efforts with Governor Biodun Oyebanji to provide adequate facilities in schools through give- back -to schools initiative.
Mrs Afuye gave the charge in Ado Ekiti, on Thursday, while commissioning the solar-powered streetlights donated by the Christ School Alumni , 1989-1994 Set, to mark the 30th Anniversary of their graduation from the prestigious school.
Commending the Alumni for the impactful gesture, Mrs Afuye, in a statement by her Special Assistant (Media), Victor Ogunje, noted that the donations aligned with Governor Oyebanji’s advocacy that graduates of schools should give back to their Alma Maters, to shore up facilities, for conducive learning environment in schools.
To catapult the concept of role modeling in the state to a higher pedestal, Mrs Afuye, revealed that Governor Oyebanji and his siblings recently built and donated a modern Maternity facility to the Aramoko General Hospital in honour of his late mother.
“This underscored the level of commitment Governor Oyebanji has for community development through personal efforts and contributions, besides using the instrumentality of governance to bring radical development to our dear state.
“It is on this premise that I commend the Christ’s School Alumni Association, 1994 set, for setting a good pace and remember their Alma Mater 30 years after, with these landmark projects that will enhance the beauty of this school and its general security level.
” It should be noted that the government can’t solely provide all the facilities needed to improve learning in schools. The government needs to partner individuals, corporate organisations and alumni groups to achieve this task, knowing full well that education is the best pride for an average Ekiti man.
“Having established this fact, then, we must join the government to give our children qualitative education that can add value to humanity and our society”.
She saluted the set for endowing a Scholarship Scheme to give a helping hand to the students from poor backgrounds, saying this will help in achieving the education- for- all initiative being aggressively spearheaded by Governor Oyebanji’s administration.
Mrs Afuye made passionate appeal to the management of the school to protect the project from vandals and make good use of it, so that other sets who are yet to make donations can be attracted to join the struggle being intensified to develop education.
“I also charge the alumni associations of other schools across the state to emulate this good gesture with high potential to transform the education sector where we derive so much pride and honour”.
In his submission, the Chairman of the 1989-1994 Set of the School, Mr. Babafemi Odofin, urged the graduates of the institution to be more conscious of the school’s future and contribute meaningful to every facet of its development.
Odofin said the project donated and the scholarship awards were conceptualised to complement the enormous government’s investments in education sector, to upscale the institution’s aesthetic and infrastructural facelift, for quality service delivery by teachers