Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has donated a two-bedroom bungalow and N2 million to the 2020 overall best graduating student of Lagos State University (LASU), Oladimeji Shotunde, an indigene of the state.
The governor made the announcement during a celebration of Ogun academic laureates 2021, held at the Obas Complex, Abeokuta, on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor also gifted Ademola Adeeko, of Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta, winner of the 2020 African Union Continental Teacher’s Award, a two-bedroom bungalow.
The governor announced that the state government would also set up an education endowment fund for Faith Odunsi of the Ambassadors College, Ota, in Ogun, winner of the Global Open Mathematics Tournament.
He noted that the event was another symbolic confirmation of the status of the state, not only as the education capital of Nigeria but as the intellectual melting-pot in Nigeria.
Mr Oladimeji Shotunde, an indigene of Ogun State who recently emerged Best Graduating Student of the Lagos State University, was awarded a 2-bedroom bungalow and a 2million Naira cash prize.
Mr Oladimeji Shotunde, an indigene of Ogun State who recently emerged Best Graduating Student of the Lagos State University, was awarded a 2-bedroom bungalow and a 2million Naira cash prize.
Mr Abiodun said that education remained one of the biggest industries in the state and one of the proudest legacies bequeathed to it by her founding fathers, promising that the government would sustain the legacy.
“This is why immediately on assumption of office on May 29, 2019, we declared a state of emergency on education. It was a methodical and calculated approach to rescue the education sector from the dwindling fortunes inflicted on it by the indifference of the past.
“What could have happened to the education of the state that produced the likes of Prof. Wole Soyinka, the first Nigerian and African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature; Prof. Thomas Lambo, the first professor of Psychiatric Medicine in Nigeria?
He listed others produced by the state as Biyi Afonja, Professor of Statistics; Olikoye Ransome Kuti, the renowned Paediatrician; Theophilus Ogunlesi, the first Professor of Medicine in Nigeria; Oyinade Olurin, the first female Professor of Medicine, and Anthony Asiwaju, foremost Historian.
Mr Abiodun said the present administration focused on infrastructure development, human capital development, provision of a conducive environment, among many others, to redeem the sector and restore the lost glory.
He assured the people that the state government would continue to put measures in place toward providing quality education necessary for the development of the state.
Mr Oladimeji Shotunde, an indigene of Ogun State who recently emerged Best Graduating Student of the Lagos State University, was awarded a 2-bedroom bungalow and a 2million Naira cash prize.
Mr Oladimeji Shotunde, an indigene of Ogun State who recently emerged Best Graduating Student of the Lagos State University, was awarded a 2-bedroom bungalow and a 2million Naira cash prize.
The governor charged teachers, as important stakeholders, to continue to discharge their professional duties creditably beyond the new demands of COVID-19.
He appealed to teachers to ensure that the children were adequately catered for physically, mentally, and socially in preparation for future challenges.
NAN reports that Mr Soyinka; Isiaq Oloyede, Registrar, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB); and Anthony Asiwaju, Professor of History, joined the event virtually.
They commended the governor for recognising success, urging him to continue to take the state to greater heights.
The governor also honoured 25 others for academic excellence.