Ekiti target is zero per cent out-of-school children – Oyebanji

The Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, says his administration is committed to ensuring that every child in the state has access to quality and compulsory education.

He explained that education remained a weapon in ensuring social, political, and economic growth of any society.

Oyebanji stated this at the 28th convocation ceremony of the Ekiti state university, Ado Ekiti, just as the newly inducted Chancellor of the University, Dr Tunji Olowolafe, announced N1billion agribusiness empowerment fund for products of the institution as a way to boost agriculture and food security.

Oyebanji who attended the EKSU convocation as the first alumnus of the school to become Governor of the state and Visitor to the University, said his government remained committed to ensuring that educational institutions in the state were capable of competing with their peers globally.

The governor said his administration had demonstrated commitment to development of education sector from primary to tertiary institutions which include renovation of more than 200 secondary schools, distribution of laptops to students across the state, disbursement bursary and scholarship to students of Ekiti origin in tertiary institutions.

Oyebanji also urged the university management to justify the increase in their subvention by showing greater commitment to work and avoid incessant strike actions.

While congratulating the graduating students, Oyebanji charged them to always remember to give back to their alma-mata.

“As much as the government is ready to continue to play its part in the funding of tertiary education of the state, the university must find ways and means of supplementing whatever the government is able to give. There must be conscious, creative, ingenious, and concerted development of strategies for generating additional funds so as to reduce dependence on government subventions,” the governor added.

Earlier, Olowolafe, who appreciated the governor for the opportunity to serve, pledged his commitment to the growth and development of the institution.

Olowolafe,  a trained medical doctor and businessman announced N1billion  innovation fund to empower agro-technology  companies founded by the graduating and current students of the institution.

This is in addition to the establishment of an endowment agenda to offer support and subsidies for up to 30 academic staff members so as to facilitate their participation in international conferences, training sessions, and research activities as well as creation of a platform for 100 of the brightest students from EKSU to engage in resourceful and sustainable work for skills acquisition and development.