Lucy Emike Omoaka, the Director of the Lagos State Comprehensive Schools Programme, Ministry of Basic Education, has praised the Lagos State government’s commitment in investing in basic education and the enhancement of school programmes. According to Omoaka, the state has made a noteworthy stride in increasing the number of literate people in the state. She asserted that 85 percent of pupils in Lagos have the ability to read and write proficiently. This was stated during a programme to commemorate the 2023 International Literacy Day and the donation of a leadership library to Ayedeere Ajibola Senior High School in Ikosi-Ketu, Lagos.
Do The Dream and the Life Development Leadership Centre donated the library and hosted the programme to celebrate the day. Alade Olajode, the school principal, urged other entities to also follow such lead. Omoaka noted that the Lagos State Government has made significant changes so far. After discovering that some of the pupils were not able to read, the government launched the Eko Excel program, providing training and devices to about 15,000 teachers. The students were also given books, and according to her, 85 percent of the pupils had improved their literacy level.
Acquiring literacy skills will prevent them from manipulation.
Responding to the Minister for Women’s Affairs’ call to designate Friday as a day for children to learn practical aspects of education, Omoaka said the Lagos State Government has already initiated an initiative for that. It was discovered that some of the children were hoping to acquire vocational skills and wished to receive a general education that would prepare them for their career. As a result, the state administration established a new department that enrolls children who would otherwise be parading around the streets of Lagos into the educational system, where they can learn a skill which they have a genuine interest in.
When asked on how to establish a solid groundwork for sustainable and harmonious societies, Omoaka, acting as the representative of the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Basic Education, opined that acquiring literacy skills by all will prevent them from manipulation, thereby fostering a peaceful environment. On his part, Adebusuyi Olumadewa, the Founder and CEO of the Do The Dream Youth Development Initiative, said “We used this opportunity to unveil the leadership Library which we donated to the Lagos State Government under the Do The Dream initiative and Life Development Centre based in Chicago”.
It is imperative to combine formal and informal education.
According to Olumadewa, the project is a concerted effort to encourage young people to speak up and provide a forum for their voices to be heard. It’s an E-Library for helping young people develop the kinds of leadership and management skills that will make them assets worth emulating. Also, he said that the firm plans to expand this library program beyond Lagos to other cities in Nigeria and throughout Africa. He went on to say that the private sector could do a lot more to combat illiteracy by collaborating with schools to provide resources for both young and adolescents, will make education more affordable.
The issues encountered within the education sector do not primarily stem from government, but rather emanate from the youths. It’s caused due to lack of enthusiasm towards the pursuit of education. Olumadewa explained that these challenges may be effectively addressed through making individuals understand their potentialities, the possibilities and the significance of having personal aspirations. It is imperative that we endeavor to combine formal and informal education in a manner that is devoid of condemning individuals.
Entities should work with gov’t to achieve significant progress.
Mr. Alade Olajode, the school principal called on everyone to follow the lead of this program. While he acknowledged the government efforts, he said the government cannot single-handedly surmount all challenges. And thus, it is important for entities to harmoniously cooperate and work with the government to achieve significant progress. The locals ought to contribute their part, just as the schools should likewise discharge their responsibilities, while the government also assumes its rightful role. The donation, he said, will inspire students with a heightened sense of motivation and enhance them to prepare for the future.
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