Press Releases

Fashola To School Heads: Attach No Conditions To Distribution Of Free Textbooks

Nov 3, 2008 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Monday appealed to all teachers, principals and Tutors General to comply unfailingly with all the regulations the State Government have set down for the free distribution of textbooks to all pupils from Nursery Schools to the Senior Secondary Schools.

Governor Fashola who made the appeal while receiving His Eminence, the Catholic Archbishop of the Lagos Diocese, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie who led members of the project funding committee of the proposed St Augustine Catholic University in Ilara -Epe on a courtesy visit to the Lagos House, Alausa added that the books have been paid for by the State Government and were meant to be distributed free.

He reiterated that the State Government has spent over N2Billion to provide the books, adding and that there should be no preconditions set for its distribution to the pupils.

He added that the state considers it as a sensible investment to make because of the importance it attaches to education.

Governor Fashola who pledged the support of his administration to the proposed university project itemized several reasons why he is doing so, among which is the fact that: “As a signatory to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) one of which is to eradicate poverty, education is the best tools to fight poverty because only educated people can acquire skills and only people with skills can get jobs and it is only those that have jobs that escape from poverty”.

He asserted that “No government, no matter how well intentioned can ever provide all of the requirements of the needs of its people in any sector. That is why you have private and public sector collaboration in transportation, hospitals, Schools and there must be a continuing engagement and collaboration in the public and private sectors to provide all of the needs of the people”.

He added that the State already runs a State university and due to the growing population of Lagos, one university cannot serve the needs and interest of the several secondary schools leavers, reiterating that this is where Government support is advised “so that you provide what the state cannot cope with and what certainly the citizens want”, the Governor said.

Governor added that those who think education is not important or a sensible investment should try illiteracy because the price being paid for illiteracy today across the continent is unquantifiable and beyond what would have ever been paid.

He cited several examples of incredulous and bogus claims that are disseminated among people including the educated especially concerning local concoctions and its multifaceted healing effects without pertinent questions being asked and which have sent many to their early graves.

He said the dissemination of such tales among young ones has been creating fears and uncertainty in the minds of the people and have been responsible for limiting their ability to reach for the top.

The Governor expressed the view that the greatest legacy that any nation can give to her people is a sound education promising that the state commitment to the project will be unwavering and unshaken.

He promised to work out details of where the state can intervene and assist the team in achieving its goals, saying the project is a worthy cause, with the calibre of the distinguished members of the committee.

Earlier, the Catholic Archbishop of the Lagos Diocese, His Eminence Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie who led the team said the team was in Alausa to inform the Governor about the intention to establish the St Augustine University in the Ilara- Odoragushi- Ibowon area of the State.

He pledged the loyalty and support of the Church in the actualization of the many lofty programmes of the present administration

Cardinal Okogie also saluted the courage of former Governor Bola Tinubu in returning some of the missionary schools to its former owners adding that the returned schools have since been restored to its old glories.

He explained that the total estimated cost of putting the proposed university in place is over N19Billion spread over three phases spanning 25 years.

Cardinal Okogie added that the committee has a task of raising One Billion Naira by March next year to enable the University position itself for full academic take- off in October 2009.

Among those who accompanied the His Eminence were the Chancellor of the Lagos State University, Sir Molade Okoya Thomas, Lagos state Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Monsignor Bernard Okoduwa and Advertising Guru, Sir Steve Omojafor and other notable members of the Committee.