Ekiti Targets Zero Percent Out-of-School Children, Says Gov Oyebanji

Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has restated the commitment of his administration to ensure that every child in the state has access to quality and compulsory education, noting that education remains a weapon in ensuring that social, political, and economic growth of any society.

Governor Oyebanji made this known at the 28th convocation ceremony of the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, just as the newly inducted Chancellor of the university, Dr. Tunji Olowolafe, announced a N1 billion agribusiness empowerment fund for products of the institution as a way to boost agriculture and food security.

Oyebanji, who attended the EKSU convocation as the first alumnus of the school to become governor of the state and Visitor to the university, said his government is committed to ensuring that educational institutions in the state are capable of competing with their peers globally.

The governor said his administration has demonstrated commitment to the development of education sector from primary to tertiary institutions which include renovation of more than 200  secondary schools, distribution of laptops to students across the state, disbursement of bursary and scholarship to students of Ekiti State origin in tertiary institutions of learning. 

Including Law School, increment of subvention to all state owned tertiary institutions, among others.

Recalling that the state was recently ranked as the highest in school enrollment in the country, the governor assured the state that his government would continue to ensure the state has zero percent out-of-school children across the country.

While appreciating the university’s governing council and management for being a partner in progress, the governor called for more conscious, creative, ingenious and concerted development of strategies for generating additional funds to reduce dependence on government subventions.

Oyebanji also urged the university management to justify the increase in their subvention by showing greater commitment to work, avoid incessant strike, and allow smooth running of the academic calendar so that students are not unduly delayed.

While congratulating the graduands, Oyebanji charged them to always remember to give back to their Alma-Mata.

According to him, “We are gathered here today to celebrate scholarship, success, and the result of hard work. As we all know, education remains a weapon in ensuring social, political, and economic growth in any society. This is why we will continue to support the education sector. We are committed to ensuring our educational institutions are of the highest standards that can compete globally.

“A demonstration of this commitment can be seen in our various interventions in the sector from primary to tertiary institutions. It is, therefore, a thing of pride to note that Ekiti State is ranked one of the highest in school enrollment in Nigeria and one of the states with the least out-of-school children with 2.5 percent. We are working hard to ensure we have 0 percent out-of-school children in our state.

“Just a few months ago, we increased the subventions to all Ekiti State – owned tertiary institutions, including the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital significantly. As much as the government is ready to continue to play its part in the funding of tertiary education of the state, the university must find ways and means of supplementing whatever the government is able to give. There must be conscious, creative, ingenious, and concerted development of strategies for generating additional funds so as to reduce dependence on government subventions.”

Earlier, in his address, the newly inaugurated Chancellor of the University, Dr. Tunji Olowolafe, who appreciated the governor for the opportunity to serve, pledged his unflinching commitment to the growth and development of the institution.

Olowolafe, a trained medical doctor turned businessman, announced a N1 billion innovation fund to empower agro-technology companies founded by the latest graduands and current students of the institution.

This is in addition to the establishment of an endowment agenda to offer support and subsidies for up to 30 academic staff members so as to facilitate their participation in international conferences, training sessions, and research activities as well as creation of a platform for 100 of the brightest students from EKSU to engage in resourceful and sustainable work for skills acquisition and development.

He noted that it has become imperative for graduates and undergraduates in Nigeria to get actively involved in activities geared towards supporting food security , innovation and strategic entrepreneurship in the current circumstance.

He suggested that students take land lease arrangements for agricultural purposes, adding that special awards could also be given to outstanding agriculture entrepreneurs in addition to academic honours.