Speeches

Annual Lecture of Ambassador Club, Ile-Ife

Oct 31, 2007 - “Education holds the key to human capacity development. Hence, any society or individual that wishes to be great in all respect must never toy with the education of its people”.

It is generally agreed that education is the key ingredient to human development and capacity building. Education is
also the key that unlock the doors of opportunities. Achievements in all facets of life including the eradication of
poverty, ignorance and illiteracy are the outcome of effective educational system. I am therefore pleased to join you in this lecture titled: “The Role of Education in Democracy: Any hope for the Youth”

The connection between education and democracy is intertwined. No nation can make any substantial progress if
its educational system is neglected. Ignorance, illiteracy, educational backwardness will continue to be the cog in the
wheel of progress towards sustainable democratic governance.

The legacy of the educational policy of the Late legend Chief Obafemi Awolowo is still fresh and has remained a
reference point. Nelson Mandela once said that “education is the great engine of personal development; it is through
education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mine worker can become the head of a mine, that a child of farm workers can become the president of a great nation”. The acquisition and internalization of basic knowledge through qualitative and functional training will not only help in the appropriate moulding, shaping and building the morals of our youth, it would also, in the long-run, impact positively on our democratic stability, national development, economic growth and technological development.

As an individual, my privileged position today as the Chief Executive of the largest and most populous black city in the
world, Lagos, the Centre of Excellence was made possible by the power of education. To a large extent, in today’s
knowledge-based society, leadership positions in most institutions (public or private) are only available for those
who have gone through the crucibles of formal training.

Generally speaking, successive administrations at the Federal and State levels had formulated various policies, strategies and programmes aimed at improving upon our educational systems. This is so because, the quality of human capital resources in any society is usually measured and determined by the strength, qualities and structure upon which its educational system is nurtured and sustained.

In realisation of the central role of education, our administration in Lagos has been working hard to use education as a tool for empowerment, wealth creation and poverty alleviation. We are formulating and implementing policies to enhance the development of education in the State.We have decided to invest heavily in education in our quest
to enhance the level and quality of learning through the provision of qualitative and functional education consistent
with our socio-economic and technological needs and to adequately equip our children and youths for global
challenges in the future. We have promised our people that we are irrevocably committed towards ensuring adequate
education for every child of school age in Lagos State. We shall as a matter of priority ensure adequate provision of
necessary infrastructure and facilities to create conducive learning environment and improve the standard of education
in the State.

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Our quest for a better tomorrow in terms of socio-economic, technological and industrial development is tied to the type of educational recipe given to our children. Our programme of actions and
strategy of achieving our goal must be through the training of teachers, development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) through the provision of computers to some of our schools, rehabilitation of schools, among other methodology of implementing our educational objective.

We are ready to consolidate on the efforts of the immediate past administration. To this end, we are investing heavily and strategically in renovations, reconstructions and infrastructural development in our schools. We have also launched trainers programme to get our teachers acquainted with modern teaching facilities.

From the inception of this administration, we have demonstrated our avowed commitment to uplifting the living
standard of our citizenry through the provision of qualitative and functional education up to the Senior Secondary School in all our public schools in the State. This is because we realize that education is the most potent weapon against ignorance and poverty. It is through education that we can empower the youths who will be builders of our tomorrow. Because knowledge is power every government must invest heavily on the means of acquiring this knowledge. Our concern for the young people in Lagos also include systematic programmes that will engage the energies of our youths for constructive purposes. For instance, about, 2000 young secondary school leavers and graduates were employed as enumerators under the Enterprise Registration Identification Agents (ENTRIDA) Scheme. In addition, 2,750 young school leavers were also given vacation jobs among other initiatives we have designed to help our youths.

I wish to remind and challenge the younger generation that the future belongs to you. You are our tomorrow-the future presidents, governors, ministers, legislators, commissioners, captains of industries, great leaders in private and public institutions. The question is how prepared are you for the challenges of the future? As someone observes, “yesterday is a spent cheque, tomorrow is a promissory note but today is a blank cheque”. Whatever you write on it will determine what you will cash tomorrow. Education remains the bedrock of your greatness in future. Whatsoever you sow into it, will be what you will reap.

Let me use this forum to express our concern about the unfortunate falling moral standard among our youth. We
seem to have lost the cherished values of hardwork, respect for elders and constituted authorities, fellow-feeling,
humaneness, being our brothers’ keepers among other ethos and mores that were the cornerstones of our educational system when we were growing up. I would therefore appeal to you for personal reflection and moral rejuvenation.

Our democracy can only succeed when those of us that will occupy the position of leadership imbibe leadership qualities
and understand what it means to serve. Of course, the principles of leadership are all embedded in your various courses and educational programmes. I urge you to pay close attention to the values that will prepare you to build a greater and better Nigerian nation.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish to congratulate the President of the Ambassador Club and his Executive
members for sustaining the intellectual tradition and impacting positively on the youths through its various programmes.

As I conclude, I will want us to spare some thought about the situation of our country. We must play our roles as good
citizens; have respect for the rule of law; be positive about the growth of the democratic dispensation and let us work
together to make Nigeria work.

Once again, I thank you for inviting me to this lecture and I wish you a Brighter Rewarding Future.

Thank you and God bless.

Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN)
Governor of Lagos State