Lagos Moves to Kick out Illiteracy

Funmi Ogundare and Peace Obi
The Lagos State Government has flagged-off the 2017 sensitisation and mobilisation campaign for mass literacy in Ikorodu, as part of its effort towards realising 95 percent literate population by 2019.

Speaking at the programme organised by the state’s Agency for Mass and Adult Literacy, held at the Palace of the Adegboruwa of Igbogbo Baiyeku Kingdom, Ikorodu, Oba Semiudeen Kasali, the State Governor, Akinwumi Ambode assured Lagosians that his administration’s would ensure that illiteracy is kicked-out of the state by 2019.

Ambode who was represented by his Special Adviser on Education, Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh, said the state has remained committed to its vision as it has continued to come up with new ideas, strategies as well as committing huge resources towards realising its target.
Explaining the state’s efforts at making learning accessible to residents irrespective of their locations or trade, Ambode disclosed that about 1,000 facilitators have been trained with 250 new learning centres established across the state.

“We have our study centres at every corner of the state such as in market places, mechanic villages, motor parks, churches, mosques, okada parks, palaces, NGOs offices and several other places that are easily accessible to learners. We also pay our instructors and facilitators their allowances regularly every month. To this end, we have been recording no fewer than 10,000 trainees graduating from the scheme annually and our target is to double the figure in the subsequent years.”

Stating that government cannot do it alone, he called on local council administrators, traditional rulers, religious leaders as well as market and trade union leaders for their continued support to the course. “Encourage your constituents to take advantage of this programme, so we can collectively kick illiteracy out of Lagos State,” Ambode said.

The Director, Agency for Mass and Adult Literacy, Mrs. Oluwakemi Kalesanwo, appealed to the learners to be regular in class and participate in all activities required of them to graduate after one year.
“The state government provides learners text and instructional materials free of charge. The learners are also taught Arithmetic, English and Yoruba language, general knowledge and civic education,” she said

In another development, the Lagos State Model College, Kankon, has emerged the winner of the grand finale, season VIII of Lagos State Schools Governor’s Quiz competition held, recently at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium.

The school beat Alimosho Senior Grammar School and Jubilee Model Senior Grammar School to the second and third positions respectively. In the junior secondary and primary schools category, Eko Junior College and Darocha Primary Schools came first respectively.

In her remarks, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule who was represented by the Director, Co-curricular, Ministry of Education Mrs. Babs Akinyeye, observed that the quality of quiz competition has been growing over the years, adding that the standard of questions posed to the pupils/students and the ease with which they answer them is a testimony to the quality of education that the state provides.

She also observed the brilliant performance exhibited by the participants from the preliminaries to the final shows, saying that the students have been properly groomed and that is highly commendable.
The State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. Adesina Odeyemi said the competition is aimed at developing the minds of the pupils by creating healthy rivalry among students in public and private primary, junior and senior secondary schools across the state.

He added that over the years, it has produced many brilliant students who have gone ahead to study various courses in their choice of institutions of higher learning.
“The government is happy with the overt display of knowledge by our amiable children in all facets of life, science and technology, art and craft. The improvement recorded in the 2016 WASSCE result and your achievements in many competitions both at home and abroad are encouraging.”

Ambode revealed that the sector got a total of over N205.8 billion in 2016 and 2017 budget in spite of the stiff competition for resource allocation, noting that it was as a result of the needs assessment, priority and the commitment of the government to the upbringing and welbeing of the children in the state.