Ekiti State Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun has stressed the need for old students of various schools to give back to their alma mater to support efforts of government at ensuring sustainable development of the public schools.
He spoke during the inauguration of a 25-member Central Planning Committee by the Old Students Association of Igbemo Community Comprehensive High School, Igbemo Ekiti (ICCHSOSA) to pilot the programs for the School’s 50th Anniversary tagged the great Re-Union, to launch N200million Old Students Vocational Centre.
Olatunbosun emphasized the importance of supporting government’s efforts in the education sector, adding that providing support and assistance to their former schools would help guarantee the future of coming generations.
The commissioner who is also the head of the newly inaugurated Central Planning Committee of the School’s 50th Anniversary, reiterated the commitment of the present administration in the state to the provision of a conducive environment for teaching and learning in schools.
According to him, the investment is aimed at achieving a sustainable high qualitative and quantitative standards of education in the state, adding that,” the government is ready to partner interested individuals, corporate organisation and multinationals amongst others to achieve the desired goals.”
Olatunbosun said, “There is no school in the State out of the 203 Secondary Schools and three Special Schools, six Technical Schools and over 900 Primary Schools that have not been touched by Government’s interventions under various projects including the World Bank supported AGILE, IDEAS etc.
“Some of the government’s interventions and achievements in the education sector to include massive improvement of infrastructures with construction of new structures and renovation of old ones as well as provision of learning tools, such as computer systems and laboratory equipment in all schools in the State.
“The administration has also provided specialized services for children with disabilities, such as occupational, physical, and speech therapy while teachers’ welfare takes top priority as part of efforts at improving the education sector.
“The recent elevation of graduate Primary school teachers to move up to grade level 16 is still fresh in our minds while car and housing loans are provided to make life easier for the teachers.”
“Apart from provision of bursary awards and scholarships to students, the Oyebanji administration also makes conditional cash transfer to indigent students.
“All these interventions have made schooling attractive and accessible for all school-age children without bias to their background or financial status which has led to a remarkable reduction in the number of out-of-school children in the State.”
He pledged on behalf of other members of the committee, to work assiduously towards ensuring a successful and fruitful anniversary.
Members of the Central Planning Committee include Alhaji Kola Bakare as Secretary, Pst (Prof) Afolabi Ojo as Alternate Chairman, Hon (Deacon) Joseph Anifowose as Publicity Secretary, Mrs Becky Jegede(National Treasurer), Otunba Sunday Akingbade(National Secretary) in charge of Mobilization among others.
Four Major sub-committees were also inaugurated and the oath of offices was administered by the Chairman of Central Planning Committee Rt. Hon Taiwo Olatunbosun. The Committees includes: Programs, Events and Logistics; Marketing, Publicity and Alumni Engagements; Finance /Funds Raising and Security, Safety/Welfare.
Earlier, the Global President of the Old Students Association, Pastor (Mrs) Atinuke Ayeni who inaugurated the committee, expressed appreciation to Olatunbosun for accepting the offer to lead the committee and charged all other members to work diligently for the success of the programs ahead.
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