7th September, 2011
A lawmaker representing Ikorodu 1 Constituency at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Sanai Agunbiade, has emphasised the need for political office holders to assist in the fight to reduce poverty in the country.
Agunbiade made this suggestion at the graduation ceremony of 232 students who had successfully been trained in computer appreciation and technology. The training wass sponsored by the lawmaker.
He said through empowerment programmes, the level of poverty and illiteracy in the country would be reduced.
He added that the mass failure of students in examinations every year is the direct result of the poor state of the country’s economy.
Agunbiade, who said the graduation was the third in the series, added: “We experience mass failure because there are many distractions in our society.
“Some of the children do not have parents, and this diverts their attention.
“Some of them personally source money for themselves. So, we cannot blame these children because most of their parents have neglected them.”
On the goal of the computer training for the students, Agunbiade said he believed in the need to encourage youths with different kinds of vocational training that would enable them to positively contribute to the society.
“We should not mount the responsibility on the government alone; all hands must be on deck to ensure change in the education sector,” he stated.
The lawmaker presented 12 sets of computer to outstanding students, including Quadri Omiolade, Adetilo Oluwaseyitan and Aliu Mobilat, who emerged best students in computer training. He also said that he would continue to encourage more performance among the students.
In his speech, the coordinator of Daylab School, which was used for the training programme, Mr. Augustine Ozor, said the graduands had become professionals by virtue of the training programme.
“They are now society changers and developers through the knowledge in the area of digital computer technology,” he stated.
Ozor while appreciating Agunbiade for his kind gesture, also promised that the school will not relent in its efforts to produce students that would change the society for better.
He said 284 students registered for the programme. While 29 failed, 30 students were given permission to process their university admission. He disclosed that 22 other students dropped out of the programme.
He tasked students of the training programme to remain serious as it was for their own good.
Some of the students who appreciated the gesture tasked other politicians to imbibe the culture of assisting the ordinary man as this would make the society a better place.