Prioritize Your Child's Welfare: Aregbesola Charges Parents, Guidance...As Corporate Organization Donates Block of Classrooms to Osun Govt

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has enjoined the parents and guardians in the state to always prioritize the welfare of their children above other considerations.

Aregbesola also called on the people on the need for them to spare no efforts in building greater future for incoming generation, saying the beauty of life lies in the consolidation of solid legacy

Governor Aregbesola gave the charge while addressing people during the commissioning of three block of classrooms of the St. Thomas Elementary/Middle School, Iwoye-Ijesa, built, fully furnished and donated to Osun government by PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc.

The Governor who described education as the most important gift parent can ever give to a child, said no matter what an individual does in life, if he has a good education, he will most likely be better than those who do not.

Aregbesola who recounted greater achievements being recorded by his administration in the education sector, said investment in education of the youth is also an investment in the future of the community.

He said the current government in the state has been unwavering in its commitment to providing quality education for the people of the state, in spite of the financial challenges.

Aregbesola who attributed the feats made in education sector so far to the proper intervention of his government which was in line with the recommendations of the education summit held shortly after he assumed office.

He said his government reclassified primary and secondary schools into three layers of elementary (Primary 1-4), middle (Primary 5-JSS3) and high (SSS1-3) schools in a bid to maximize resources and get the best from what the state has.

Aregbesola said following the dilapidation in the infrastructure of public education, the current government embarked on an ambitious project of building brand new state of the art 100 elementary schools, 50 middle schools and 20 high schools.

He disclosed that the state have since completed 20 Elementary Schools, 22 Middle Schools and 11 High Schools, adding that the gesture was in addition to the other schools being rehabilitated and refurbished which according to him was not less than a total of 1,694 classrooms.

According to him, "Good and decent buildings encourage learning. It has been our experience since building these schools that badly behave pupils in run down schools started behaving well, the moment they are transferred into the new beautiful schools.

"But beyond these buildings, we have also recruited more than 3,000 teachers to meet up with the shortfall in teaching personnel.

He said before the present cash crunch, his administration increased the running cost on students as against the paltry N200 met, the government pay N400 on pupils in Elementary Schools and N500 for those in the Higher Schools, stressing that there was also timely and adequate supply of modern instructional and learning materials to all schools.

Aregbesola said the motivation for these was to provide quality education through which the state can develop the future generation.

Governor Aregbesola also pointed out that the motivation for the intervention in education has never been religion, just as his government cannot deny that it has a duty to promote the well-being of the people in the three dimensions of man – spirit, soul and body, saying his administration has enhanced all faiths to a reasonable level.

He said, "It is not for government to lead pupils in any religious direction. A child’s religious inclination will always be the duty of parents and the religious institutions".

The Governor said those who are accusing him of being biased have not been fair but only wanted to spite his government and bring disaffection against the state having neglected the revolution made in education sector.

"It appear they have adopted the paradigm of conflict in interpreting reality. Every act and gesture must fit into the narrow prism of ‘we against them’ in the Hobbesian state of war of all against all.

"For us, there is no ‘we against them’. There is only one United State of Osun, with common people, language and history, which we share with our Yoruba kit and kins in this country and beyond. Our religious differences do not define us and cannot define us.

"We are conscious of the judgment of history and history will vindicate us. What we are doing is not for today. Our finest moment will be when our pupils are writing external examinations and ready to face the world", he added.

Earlier, Osun Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, who described the kind initiative of the organization as timely, said it was also in reflection of the state's undaunting commitment to functional education.

Mrs. Tomori said the government was prepared to collaborate with private individuals, corporate organizations that wish to complement its efforts in all aspects of the economy especially in the education sector.

The Deputy Governor who called for collective efforts in building a new state, said meaningful results had been had in the state's moves towards the provision of an enduring, rounded and robust standard of living.

She attributed the state's determination to education as unprecedented and unsurpassable, noting that the noble policy has attracted many just as it has earned the collaboration of private individuals and groups over the years.

"We will do all we could as a government to continuously provide social infrastructures just as we are committed to the provision of a requisite conducive atmosphere and level plain ground for all.

"Corporate organizations, individuals, groups and communities that share our vision in achieving quality education and standard of living would be continuously entertained.

She pointed out that the noble gesture of the organization was in no doubt implies the government's commitment to the provision of quality, functional and qualitative education.

The Deputy Governor said the state saw the support from the organization as a relief in its efforts towards the fulfillment of its holistic campaign promises to the electorate.

According to her, "This involved the provision of confessional assets for functional education as part of the direct principle of our education policy.

"We will do all we could as a government to continuously provide social infrastructures just as we are committed to the provision of a requisite conducive atmosphere and level plain ground for all.

"This commissioning is in no doubt targeted our children and by implication, the greater future of our youths.

"PZ has demonstrated a high level of compassion towards the plights of their host community and people.

"Corporate organizations, individuals, groups and communities that share our vision in achieving quality education and standard of living.

"We hope other well meaning Nigerians especially the corporate organizations would emulate PZ noble initiatives in giving meaningful birth to the society.

"Without a doubt, this tremendous achievements would definitely contribute significantly to functional education which our government stands to achieve.

Mrs. Tomori who appreciated the management and members of the PZ Cusson Nigeria Plc for considering the worthy in its programmes however urged the management of the school and the pupils to join the government in protecting the procured facilities to judicious use.

In their separate remarks, the Vice Chairman, PZ Cusson Nigeria Plc, Engineer Tunde Oyelola and Director, Corporate Affairs and Administration, PZ Cusson Nigeria Pls, Mrs. Yomi Ifaturoti, said the focus of the organization is to initiate great impact in the areas of quality education, healthcare delivery, potable water and road rehabilitation.

They disclosed that the foundation which was formally launched in 2007 had successfully carried out social investment projects in an informal and ad-hoc basis as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility.

The duo maintained that education has gotten the lion share of funding in all the organization's programmes due to high clamour and agitation of the masses for accessible, affordable and functional education.

They said the organization having prioritized education to other programmes had impacted greatly on the provision of enormous educational facilities targeted to ease teaching and learning process, adding that notable efforts had equally been made on physical infrastructures essential for conducive learning.

According to them, "Our organization's strong commitment to education was not far-fetched as the gestures were aimed to complement government's efforts and as well help in rescuing people over the high clamour for access to education.

"We believe as a corporate organization that many of our schools especially public schools are facing problems of classroom congestion, hostel accommodation and other educational facilities that if being provided would not only improve the quality of education, but as well develop human capacity.

"We believe government cannot do it alone but rather needs the required support from corporate organizations and individuals to accomplish the greater educational goal.

"In the area of education, projects executed by our Foundation cut-across because aside donating fully-furnished block of classrooms, we also renovated hostel blocks, dinning halls, assembly halls and administrative blocks in schools at various levels.

According to them, "This is the third project executed in Osun State. In 2009, we built a block of three classrooms with full complement of furniture at Ede, just as we donated a borehole to the said community.

They therefore urged the beneficiaries to keep the project in the best possible form, good and workable condition, saying this would encourage the Foundation and others with philanthropic zeal and inclinations to do more for the school, the community and the state.