Governor Ambode gave the vow as he spoke simultaneously through his representatives at the commissioning of several blocks of classrooms and school infrastructures across the state.
A newly constructed Block of 13 Classrooms with other educational facilities at Community Primary School, Oke Ishagun in Alimosho was among the facilities commissioned.
Other educational projects include the newly rehabilitated Block of 32 Classrooms with Office and Toilets, School Hall, Fence, Gate House and Food Shop at Christ Church Cathedral Primary School, Broad Street; Block of 13 Classrooms with Toilets, Offices and Fire Alarm at Community Primary School, Abule Eko, Ijede, Lagos; Block of 13 Classrooms with Toilets, Offices and Fire Alarm at Community Primary School, Ado Ikosi, Epe, Lagos and Six Classrooms with Toilets, Offices and Fire Alarm at Odu Abore Primary School, Mushin, Lagos.
According to him, the resolve of administration to ensure qualitative education for children prompted the investment of resources towards the provision and upgrading of infrastructure, particularly at the primary school level.
The governor, while noting that the basic education level was a crucial stage being the foundation upon which all other levels were built, said it was the state government desire to ensure that this level of education was strengthened to enhance the future prospects of the children and their ability to cope with the challenges of higher levels of education.
Governor Ambode, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Mrs Oluranti Adebule, at the commissioning at Oke Ishagun in Alimosho area of the state, said his administration would not deviate from its vision to develop a robust public education system that could compare with the best in the world.
This was just as he restated his administration’s commitment to ensuring that the ongoing rehabilitation and construction of classrooms were extended to all public schools in the state irrespective of the area and location.
The governor, while expressing appreciation to teachers in the state for their role in moulding the lives of children and assuring that their dedication to their growth and development would continue to be rewarded by his administration with improved welfare and working conditions, charged the pupils that future belonged to them if they listened to their teachers and their parents.
“To our pupils, the future belongs to you if you listen to your teachers and your parents. You can achieve anything you put your mind to but you must work hard and pay attention. Read your books and focus on achieving your dreams and develop yourself daily,” he said.
Also, Governor Ambode charged people of the community as well as community leaders to guard the facilities jealously, saying that they must be properly maintained so that they can serve for a long time.
Meanwhile, Governor Ambode also commissioned nine newly renovated Primary Health Care Centers (PHCs), stating that one of the core policy objectives of his administration in the health sector was to build a vibrant healthcare system through the revitalization of all PHCs in the state.
At the commissioning of the newly renovated Pakpa-Uku Primary Health Care Centre, Agege, Governor Ambode stated that primary healthcare was the bedrock of healthcare service delivery system worldwide as they were the closest to the people.
The governor, who was represented at the event by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, said that the renovation and equipping of the Pakpa-Uku PHC was in line with state government’s desire to bring quality health care services close to where people lived and worked.
Ambode added that with the renovation of the PHC, the people of the community were assured of quality health care service delivery, stressing that the PHC was equipped with medical facilities and personnel to attend to their health needs.
He, however, assured that health conditions that were not within the capacity of this primary health care facility would be referred to the appropriate General Hospital for further examination and treatment.
“Health conditions that are not within the capacity of this primary health care facility will be referred to the appropriate General Hospital for further examination and treatment,” he stated.
Governor Ambode, through his representatives, also commissioned eight other newly renovated PHCs, including Sura Primary Healthcare Centre at Lagos Island East; Maidan Primary Healthcare Centre at Ikosi-Isheri; Orisunbare Primary Healthcare Centre at Alimosho; Agarawu Primary Healthcare Centre at Lagos Island; Oba Salami Primary Healthcare Centre at Yaba; Oshodi Primary Healthcare Centre; Onigbongbo Primary Healthcare Centre at Onigbongbo and the Ojodu Primary Healthcare Centre at Ojodu.
In another development, Governor Ambode, while commissioning a modern Fibre Glass Boat donated to riverine Communities in Epe, assured existing and potential investors in water transportation of the commitment of his administration to develop the sector to international standards through construction of modern jetties and terminals as well as channelization of waterways.
Represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Lola Akande, Governor Ambode, said his administration was also making efforts to strengthen the regulatory framework for the effective monitoring of operators with an overriding objective of guaranteeing safety of lives on Lagos water ways.
He said that the boat was manufactured from durable Fibre Glass which makes it lighter and faster on the waterways compared to the conventional wooden boats.
He added that it was also equipped with safety items, including standard safety vests to ensure that passengers were secured in the events of any mishap.
On the strategic benefits of the boat, he expressed confidence that the Fibre Boats would give a boost to social and economic activities of the fishermen and fish processors in outlying island near Epe, by providing a fast means of moving their stock to the mainland while school children in the hinterland would be availed the opportunity of safe transportation to and from schools on the mainland.
and then