Some primary and junior secondary schools in Orile-Agege have taken delivery of no fewer than 1,000 pieces of furniture donated to them by the Orile-Agege Local Development Council Area (LCDA).
Mr. Johnson Babatunde, Executive Chairman of the LCDA, told newsmen while making the donation of chairs and tables on Thursday that the gesture was borne out of his passion and belief that education has the capacity to turn the nation around.
Babatunde stated that no effort would be spared in investing in education to give the younger generation a better future in his administration.
“The donation of 1,000 chairs and tables to our public primary school pupils and junior secondary schools which is actually taking place today is borne out of our belief that education is the only path to a prosperous nation.
“One of the promises I made to the good people of Orile-Agege is to improve the quality of education.
“To the glory of God, we have 24 primary schools and as I am talking to you we are just left with about two or three that we are yet to touch in our administration,” he said.
According to him, one of the major facilities that should be provided for pupils and students to ease learning and make the learning environment conducive is to ensure that desks and benches are made available for them.
“This we have done and we are commissioning today,” he said.
He said that his administration also in 2021 distributed desks and benches to State Senior High School, Oyewole and kindergarten chairs and tables to African Zion Primary School, Alagbaa, as well as the Progressive Primary School.
Babatunde said that his educational programmes had also touched senior secondary schools in the area, adding that his administration is also currently carrying out massive renovation of public primary school buildings.
He said the schools included Ladoje Primary School, Orile-Agege Primary School, Saka Tinubu Primary School, Araromi Primary School, Government Junior Comprehensive College, Agege, and Girls Junior High School Agege.
The chairman added that the council had not ceased to also develop extra curriculum activities and engage students in quiz and debate competitions, where cash prizes were presented to winners.
“We will not relent in our commitment to better the lives of our pupils and students by ensuring that the standard of education is improved and also ensure that they learn in a conducive environment.
“To the best of our ability our teachers are being taken care of from time to time to ensure that they deliver impactful knowledge to our children,” he said.
The chairman, who noted that the council had not also failed to employ part-time teachers to bridge some gaps, said that his administration would further provide another set of 1,000 furniture items first quarter of 2023.
Babatunde said his administration’s zero tolerance for students sitting on bare floors in classrooms would continue till the end of his tenure.
He applauded the council legislators, the Agege Local Government Education Authority and all teachers for their commitment and perseverance in ensuring pupils get the best from schools.
Mr. Wahab Alawiye-King, the Executive Chairman, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB), present at the commissioning, said that the motto of the board is “leaving no child behind”.
Alawiye-King, who was represented by Mrs. Serifat Adedoyin, an official of LASUBEB, said the goal was to see that no child that is of school age is out of school, no matter the tribe or gender.
He thanked the council boss for the gesture, while also advising the beneficiary schools, teachers and students to maintain the furniture.
