Press Releases

We Will Accord Education Its Right Of Place - Fashola

May 14, 2008 - Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Wednesday reiterated the determination of his administration to ensure that education is accorded its right of place as a major catalyst for the socio economic and technological development of the society.

The Governor gave the commitment at the grand finale of the 50th year anniversary celebration and 27 & 28 joint convocation ceremony of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Otto Ijanikin.

Governor Fashola added that the state recognizes the role of education as a major vehicle for building, nurturing and developing the mind through application of basic skills acquired overtime.

He commended former Governor of the State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for being considered and conferred with the first honourary fellowship of the college and described it as an eloquent testimony to the successes he achieved as the Governor of the State.

The Governor asserted that as major actors in the educational sector, the roles of teachers are indeed vital and critical to enhancement of learning and human development in any society.

Governor Fashola commended the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education for the successes and achievements it has recorded since its establishment

In his words: “teachers are recognized and appreciated for their roles as role models and character moulders in their various environment. As a vocation, a calling and a profession, teaching is meant only for those with the right attitudes and aptitudes”.

He urged all teachers to remain focused and let discipline and good moral conduct be their watchword, adding that as role models, the society will always look up to them for instructions and guidance in the right direction and cannot afford to let them down.

He assured that “we are ready to encourage you in providing the enabling and conducive environment for learning and working. I therefore charge you to make use of what you have learnt while in the college and improve on them where necessary”

Governor Fashola informed that National Certificate of Education (NCE) graduates shall always be the first priority for employment opportunities as demonstrated by the recent employment of about one thousand graduate teachers, a large percentage of whom were drawn from AOCOED.

Governor Fashola promised that the State Government would take full responsibility for the design and development of an Information, Communication and Technological Centre (ICT) that would be worthy of the status of the institution.

Speaking earlier, the chairman of the governing council of the institution, Mrs. Adefemi Taire said the presence of Governor Fashola at the convocation is a demonstration of the pride of place that education occupies in the administration.

He added that as the institution marks its golden anniversary and makes a move to the next step, the time is ripe for the institution to move to the pinnacle of tertiary education and that this should be accorded a serious thought by the present administration.

Mrs. Taire added that the school is looking up to the state to come to its aid by assisting in providing an administrative block, an ICT centre, an auditorium and three faculty complex for it to meet the demand of a decent tertiary institution.

Former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his response after being conferred with a fellowship of the institution attributed whatever he has achieved in life to the support of people who worked with him and had a belief in his vision, including the current Lagos State Governor.

He commended Governor Babatunde Fashola for the sense of responsibility and the commitment to excellence with which he is presiding over the affairs of the Lagos.

He said he feels vindicated that his choice then of Governor Fashola as the best man for the job has been justified with the unparalleled development which he has brought to the state.

He urged the graduating teachers to be the best of whatever they are and ensure that they impart qualitative knowledge to those who pass through them.

Asiwaju Tinubu reiterated that the roadmap to success includes working hard, having determination and perseverance all the time.

The former Governor had earlier been decorated with the fellowship of AOCOED by Mrs. Adefemi Taire, the Provost, Mr. Hakeem Ajose Adeogun and Governor Babatunde Fashola.