Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has urged the private sector and education stakeholders to collaborate with his administration to give every student in the state a solid foundation for personal and professional success.
Sanwo-Olu said this at the Y2022 EQUAL Summit, organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Office of Sustainable Development Goals and Investment (SDGI), on Thursday in Lagos.
The EQUAL, an acronym for EquaI, Quality, Ubiquity, Access And Learning, is a strategic initiative designed to bring together all key stakeholders that are zealous and passionate about improving education sector in the state.
Represented by his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, Sanwo-Olu said that as policy makers and private sector professionals, it was their responsibility to ensure that emerging generations of young people were exposed to the same high-quality opportunities that they enjoyed and which had a great impact on their lives.
“We know that a comprehensive and well-rounded education involves the impartation of skills such as empathy, leadership, and self-confidence.
“It should also teach awareness of the world and of our place in it, and emphasise on inculcating values and ethics in our young people so that our society can benefit from their robust contributions,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu, therefore, called on the private sector to collaborate with his administration in the areas of investment in the newly established comprehensive schools.
“Embrace the concept of adopting schools, equipping and upgrading the classroom, accommodation, as well as donating equipment and tools for technology; funding teacher training centres, donating to Lagos State Teacher Welfare Fund, sponsoring work experience schemes for students and teachers.
“Also, sponsoring local and international exchange programmes, investing in special needs education, providing consultancy services for monitoring and evaluation, capacity development, data gathering
and analysis,” he said.
The governor assured that whatever support given would go a long way in raising the performance bar and standards much higher.
He noted that the outcome from the resources and efforts invested in the past three years of his administration had been modest and very encouraging given the improved performances of students in national examinations, national and international competitions.
“Let me also emphasise that there will be several concession opportunities for private organisations who will participate in this collaboration through their corporate social responsibility and institutional resources, drive, knowledge and target-driven practices.
“We count on your support to provide a 21st century focus professionals in all spheres.
“I encourage all prospective private sector partners to reach out to us through the Ministry of Education or the SDGI for support and advice on the best ways to make your collaboration impactful, and in a manner we can fulfil our arduous joint responsibility of building the best workforce for tomorrow,” he said.
In her remarks, Miss Boluwatife Akinfenwa, a student of Alimosho Senior Grammar School, urged the state government to invest more money in the education sector.
Akinfenwa also appealed to the government and stakeholders to put in their best in improving infrastructural facilities to get the best results.
Highlight of the summit was the recognition and presentation of awards to various private partners for their tremendous support to the state government’s education transformation plan, most especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown of schools.
Among the awardees were Schneider Electronic Foundation, Siemens Energy, MTN Nigeria, First Bank, OPL Academy, British Council, Wazobia Max TV, and Rotary Club.
Others are; Mojek Electronic, Ikeja Electric, Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials, New Era Foundation and South Saharan Social Development Organisation among others.
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