Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Friday expressed his Government’s commitment to quality education in the State, saying education will continue to be a major stake in the THEMES agenda of his administration in order to improve the learning outcome of students in public schools.
He said his government would continue to improve on the ambience of learning in public schools to bring out the best in students across the State.
Speaking on Friday while receiving the One day Governor, Miss Eniola Ajala, who is the winner of the 2018 New Era Spelling Bee Competition and her cabinet members at the Lagos House, Ikeja, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the competition is about excellence to encourage students and youth population in Lagos State.
Members of the cabinet of the One Day Governor, who is a student of Lafiaji Senior High School, Lagos Island were; Miss Grace Ikhariale of TinCan Island Senior High School, Tolu (Deputy Governor); Oluwatosin Akinbodewa of Iworo Ajido Senior Secondary School, Badagry (Speaker); Miss Eunice Adedotun of Agbede Senior School, Ikorodu (Commissioner for Education) and Master Ekene Ezeunala of Meiran Community High School (Chairman, House Committee on Education).
Governor Sanwo-Olu who commended the Ministry of Education as well the Office of Education Quality Assurance in the ministry for their efforts and tenacity in improving education sector, urged students in various schools in the State not to relent on their oars to be the best and be committed to reach their goals in life.
The Governor who applauded Ajala for demonstrating confidence, knowledge, eloquence and pride, admonished her and others to be steadfast and not to allow the little feats they got to get to their heads.
He promised to fulfill the requests made by the One Day Governor, among which were rewards for teachers, principals and infrastructural improvement in schools.
Governor Sanwo-Olu also appreciated former First Lady of Lagos State and the founder of New Era foundation, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who is currently representing Lagos Senatorial District in the National Assembly, for initiating the Spelling Bee Competition.
He said the competition, which had started for the 20 years was not about race nor tribe but an excellence platform available to students of public schools in Lagos.
In her remarks, the One day governor while holding an extraordinary Exco meeting with the State Executive Council at the Exco Chamber with her cabinet members, thanked Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration for the honour bestowed on the winners of the school competitions.
She commended Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration THEMES agenda and how the efforts of the governor in handling the COVID-19 pandemic.
She enjoined students to be focused determined, prayerful and committed in order to overcome their challenges in life.
Ajala appealed to Governor Sanwo-Olu to provide more infrastructure in schools that produced winners of the competition, adding that her parents, who she commended for bringing her up properly, should be rewarded also by the Lagos State Government.
Speaking to journalists at the event, the Director General, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Abiola Seriki-Ayeni, said the winners of the Spelling Bee competition will be sponsored on a tour programme to Finland.
“Former First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu started the Spelling Bee Competition for public schools students and 20 years later the programme still exists; that says a lot about Lagos State Government. To prepare for the Spelling Bee Competition takes a lot; it takes perseverance, hardwork and consistency, and that is what we expect our students to be able to do to prepare them for the future.
“It is good to know that all the winners of the One Day Governor and Spelling Bee Competition have succeeded in their various areas. We have people that are now lawyers, Ph.D holders, medical doctors and professionals in other areas. We have those who are currently employed in Lagos State Government,” she said.