Press Releases

Fashola Calls For Celebration And Encouragement of Nigerian Achievers

Mar 3, 2008 - Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has called for the celebration and encouragement of Lagos public schools and its products, saying “no one would do it for us”

The Governor spoke while being presented a Gold medal won by a product of a Lagos public school, Government Senior College Surulere, Master Henry Akahara who contested in a debate competition among 200 students from 60 countries in London .

Governor Fashola who also announced the award of a scholarship through to the University level to Master Akahara added that if he had broken the law in far away United Kingdom where he won the competition, he would have made headline news.

Said he: “We do not appreciate our endowments as we should or place appropriate value on our abilities. For some strange reasons we prefer to advertise the negative things about ourselves”

He said it was very surprising that despite the feat recorded by the young lad, he is not being celebrated by the foreign media, saying the onus is on the Nigerian people to celebrate their own achievers.

Continuing, the Governor said “we have not rolled out the drums to dance and make merry at this exemplary demonstration of the innate Nigerian genius.

He added that Akahara had excelled and shown leadership and acknowledged and proved that past accomplishments by public secondary schools in Lagos is not a flash in the pan but a reflection of what public schools in Lagos State were capable of doing.

Governor Fashola who also presented a laptop computer set to the student said Lagos had been excelling in several competitions both locally and internationally culminating in the winning of the International Junior Scientists Olympiad by students from the State.

He listed other laurels won by the State to include overall winner in the 2007 National Physics competition in Enugu , winning two gold medal and one silver at the International Junior Science Olympiad and overall winner of the Y2007 Best Teacher Bournvita Award.

The State Governor explained that the best for Lagos , the centre of excellence, is coming at a time when the 2008 budget is dedicating a lot to the training and retraining of teachers at all levels of education.

In his words: “the future of our state and nation lies in bringing up an education force that would support the nation and ensure that the nation fights poverty with a sound educational policy”.

He restated that the commitment of the present administration to uplifting the standard of education is absolute and would ensure that all schools provide the best in terms of educational quality to its patrons.

Earlier in her remarks, the Principal of the College, Mrs. Betty Folawiyo Adepoju, explained that young Henry was invited to the United Kingdom House of Commons after emerging the over all winner of the Dreams and Teams Programme, a British Council initiative aimed at inculcating leadership qualities in students through sports.

According to Adepoju, at the U.K. House of Commons, young Henry was presented with an impromptu essay topic on Modern Slavery in which he competed with 200 other students from 60 countries around the world and emerged the over all winner.

Aside from the Gold Medal he won, young Henry’s College Blazer is now adorning the British House of Commons as a memorial.

Also speaking, leader of the delegation of Government College Old Boys Association (GCLOBA), Dr. Anthony Anyameluwa said the Old Boys Association of the College had to come into the matter because of the great honour Henry had done the college.

In his remarks, the lucky student Master Henry Akahara pledged his readiness to use his new found knowledge to fight all forms of modern day slavery in Nigeria .

He expressed appreciation to the State Governor for the warm reception accorded him and promised not to let Lagos State and Nigeria down.

Mr Akahara, an SS3 student of Government Senior College Surulere qualified to represent Lagos State at an International Debate Competition held at the House of Commons in London where he spoke on the effects of modern day slavery in Nigeria and won the First prize among 200 students contestants from 60 countries worldwide.

In an interview, Master Henry Akahara and his father expressed appreciation to the Lagos State Governor for the scholarship award, saying the Governor has made their day and that they would forever be grateful.

He added that the award would motivate and spur him to greater heights in life.

Others in the delegation included Ms. Sam Harvey, Director of the British Council in Lagos , Mr. Christopher Akahara, Henry’s father, the winner of the Bournvita Best Teacher Competition and a host of other.