NAN-H-71
Education
By Yetunde Fatungase
Abeokuta, Feb. 28, 2018 (NAN) The Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, has underscored the need for all well-meaning Nigerians to support efforts to uplift educational standard in Ogun and the country at large.
Gbadebo made the call when he received members of the Conference of Old Students and Alumni Association of Western Nigeria, an NGO, in his Ake Palace in Abeokuta on Wednesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the delegation paid the Alake a courtesy visit to seek his support for their quest to address the falling standard of education South-West states.
The monarch, while commending the group for the initiative which he described as noble, said that the problem of societal decay in schools must be addressed , adding that the government could not do it alone.
“I am impressed by the calibre of people in this association. You have all made your marks in your different callings.
“This initiative is a noble one and I will support you in achieving your purpose.
“We must address the problem of societal decay in our schools.
“Government cannot do it alone. The task before us is not a simple one but with strong determination, we can make a difference,” the paramount ruler said.
Earlier, the Chairman of the NGO, Prof. Delana Adelekan, described the Conference as the third leg of the tripod for the educational development initiative in the country.
Adelekan said that the conference was conceived as an umbrella body of all old students and alumni associations, in a bid to address some of the challenges bedevilling the education sector in states in the zone.
He noted that the old Western region was in the forefront of educational growth in Nigeria, hence, the need for it to take up some responsibilities in making the region regain its pride of place.
“We have observed that the standard of education in the schools in western Nigeria have continued to dwindle.
“ Infrastructure in the schools that produced some of us here today is nothing to write home about.
“The campaign of this body is to galvanise funds from all stakeholders to support our Alma Mater.
“Government alone cannot fund education; we must all rise up to salvage the sector from sinking.
“Anyone who passed through school walls at any level must be part of this project,” Adelekan said.
He hinted the monarch of the plan to celebrate the 2018 Alma Mater Day on March 13. (NAN)
YAF/NKO/NKO
Edited by Nkechi Okoronkwo