Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has reassured that his administration is fully committed to providing children in the state with an enabling environment, skills, and opportunities needed to achieve their dreams and aspirations.
Governor Sanwo-Olu gave the assurance on Monday, while speaking at the 2024 Children’s Day Celebration, themed: “Advocate for Children: Advocate for Policies and Actions that Protect and Support Children’s Well-Being,” held at the Police College Grounds, Ikeja.
Sanwo-Olu, who was represented at the event by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, while giving the assurance that the government would always advocate for their growth and ensure that no child was left behind, said that as Lagos rises, a future filled with abundant opportunities was unfolding, children should continue to dream big, strive for their goals, just as he prayed that they would surpass their imagination.
“As Lagos rises, a future filled with abundant opportunities is unfolding. Continue to dream big, strive for your goals, and you will surpass your imagination. We will always advocate for your growth and ensure no child is left behind,” Sanwo-Olu assured.
The governor said the government was committed to helping the children develop skills for their future and providing paths to success based on what they were good at, adding: “Our work is ongoing, and we are committed to giving you the tools and knowledge you need to succeed.”
Sanwo-Olu, while acknowledging the roles of the private sector in his administration, specifically companies like Nigerdock and Port and Terminal Multiservices Limited, who he said had generously donated classrooms and other resources to schools in the state, stressed that these partnerships had helped the state ensure that the children get the best education possible.
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Speaking further, Governor Sanwo-Olu disclosed that to help more children go to school, the government had added nine new schools in busy and remote areas, saying that these new schools “now have 4,588 students, with 2,310 girls and 2,278 boys, with additional improvement in many existing schools, where over 1,500 projects that include building, renovating, and providing new furniture.”
Besides, he said through the Project Zero Program, the government had helped 11,957 children who were out of school get back to their studies with all the supplies they needed.
According to him, the State’s new digital Situation Room helps the government to keep track of how well schools are doing and make sure everything is running smoothly, with security gadget-minded in some of the schools.
The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Ali-Balogun, earlier in his welcome address, stated that children were the future of the state and nation, and, therefore, implored them to continue to challenge themselves and excel both in academic and co-curricular activities as the state government had put a lot of facilities at their disposal to effectively use to their advantage.
Ali-Balogun, while commending the teachers for mentoring the children, saluted their commitment, diligence, and dedication, describing them as nation builders.
He, also, commended the parents/guardians for always being a good role model to their children.
The commissioner, therefore, appreciated the governor and deputy governor for their passion and investment in the future of all the children of Lagos State, by striving to ensure a level playing ground for all to nurture and grow their knowledge in pursuit of a better tomorrow.
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