Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on
Saturday reassured Lagosians that the State Government would do everything
possible to ensure that six pupils of the Government Model College, Igbonla in
Epe who were kidnapped in the early hours of Thursday are rescued unhurt and
reunited with their parents.
Governor Ambode, who gave the assurance at this
year’s Children Day celebration held at the Agege Stadium, said the celebration
would not be complete without rescuing those innocent pupils safely and bring
them back to school to continue their education.
He said top security arrangement was on course to
guarantee their safety, pledging that his government would stop at nothing to
ensure that kidnapping and other criminal activities are put to an end in
schools.
Represented by his deputy, Dr. Idiat Oluranti
Adebule, Governor Ambode said that his administration was committed to
protecting children in the state from any form of abuse, child labour or
molestation by religiously implementing the Child Right Law and the Executive
Order on Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy, adding that “it was
important to protect our children today, so that they can protect us tomorrow.”
The Governor, who said that this year’s Children’s
Day celebration was a unique one as the state is equally celebrating the 50thyear
anniversary of its creation, called on the children to remain focused, believe
in themselves and set target that would make them attain greatness in life,
promising that his government will continue to create opportunities and
implement policies that would help them to become the best of what they can
without any barriers.
“As we celebrate this year’s children’s Day and
the 50th anniversary
of our state, I want you to believe that you too can achieve greatness. You
must believe in yourself and in your dreams. Very soon, it will be your
responsibility to take Lagos state to the level that we all desired in the next
50 years. You are agents of change and I urge you, do not just go through life,
make a difference, impact life and affect your community , What we are
doing today is to lay a solid foundation for you to build on,” he said.
The Governor while reaffirming his
administration’s commitment to repositioning public schools to meet world class
standard, said that his administration in the last two years had invested
heavily in infrastructural and manpower development in public schools, the
effort which according to him, is yielding positive results as it has restored
confidence in public schools.
“As a government, we recognize our responsibility
to create opportunities for you to become the best you can be without any
barrier, this is why in the last two years, we have invested massively in the
infrastructural and manpower development in our public schools. Our plan which
is being realized is to restore public confidence in our public schools,’’ he
said.
Earlier in his welcome address, Permanent
Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. Adeshina Odeyemi, noted that the
education sector has undergone tremendous transformations since the creation of
the state, adding that the number of secondary schools had increased from 55 at
the creation of the state in 1967 with a total students population of 19,538 to
679 public secondary schools at present with over 564,758 students
population.
Odeyemi noted that in spite of the current global
melt down and general economic recession in the country, Lagos State government
has continued to run free education policy from primary to secondary schools
level and pay for the WAEC fees of its graduating students till date
The Permanent Secretary who noted that the
allocation of a huge sum of N205.8 billion to the education sector in the year 2016
and 2017 budget was a confirmation of government‘s genuine commitment to the
development of education in the state.
The highlight of the occasion was the cutting of
the Children’s day cake by the Deputy Governor with other members of the State
Executive Council.
Meanwhile,Kidnappers of six pupils of Lagos State Model College, Igbonla in Epe have demanded a N400 million ransom for their release.
They are understood to have got in touch with the parents of the kidnapped children to make the demand.
Meanwhile,Kidnappers of six pupils of Lagos State Model College, Igbonla in Epe have demanded a N400 million ransom for their release.
They are understood to have got in touch with the parents of the kidnapped children to make the demand.
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