24th November, 2014
Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta
For his exemplary leadership and his desire to improve education in the state, in which the sector has remain the first in priority of his administration, the executive and members of the State Parent Teacher Association of NIgeria, PTA, will on Tuesday 25 November, honour the Ogun state governor, Ibikunle Amosun and his wife, Olufunsho Amosun in Abeokuta.
The governor and his wife will be honoured with Grand Patron and Grand Matron of the association respectively.
The state chapter of the body disclosed that, base on many promises made and kept by the governor, the association will honour the governor, whom they described as, “the man of promise, the man of integrity and the man of honor.”
In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by the state chairman of the association, Pastor Peculiar Aboluwaji Treasure, copy which was made available to our correspondent in Abeokuta, the body reaffirmed its support for the present administration, saying, “In the last three and half years, the leadership has exemplified transparency, progressive and result-oriented mission. We have joined in the rebuilding mission of the present government and we make bold to say that there has been no regret.”
They commended the state government for the positive steps taken to check the spread of the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease in schools across the state. “For the very first time in the history of the state, we see a successful collaboration between the state, public and private sectors in checking a dangerous scourge, which could have spelt doom for us. We sincerely appreciate all stakeholders for deploring their resources to ensure that the virus did not get into the state.
“We are most particularly grateful for the teaching and non-teaching staff of the schools for their support to get the needed result of checking out the virus.
“We as parents, shall continue to provide such supports now and in the future, because, honestly, we held our hearts high when the scourge broke out in Lagos state. Some of our children were in Lagos for the long term break, so you can understand our fears, but, again, the quick intervention of all of us the stakeholders yielded the desired results.
“Despite the World Health Organization (WHO) clearance of Nigeria on the Ebola virus, we would want to appeal to the teachers to please sustain the thorough screenings, at least till the end of February, as you are aware that Christmas and New Year holidays are fast approaching,” the statement reads in part.
The association, however appealed to the governor to reorder the free text books for the public schools in the state.
It affirmed that the gesture of free textbooks, at the beginning of this administration, has ameliorated the burden on many parents whose wards are in public schools.
It recalled that similar gesture was last witnessed in the state during the administration of the first civilian governor of the state, Late Chief Olabisi Onabanjo between 1979 and1983.
“We have found out that the wear and tear of the books could not stand the weather of the present time, therefore there is need to replace the books at least in every two years.
“We have noticed with delight, the inclusion in the budget to repurchase these text books, running into billions of naira in the next fiscal year. This, alone, we can guarantee will surely give His Excellency the votes for the second term, because, he has done it before, we have seen it and we strongly hold that he can do it again,” the statement read.
It also expressed appreciation to the governor for keeping to his electioneering promises concerning the issue of returning of mission schools.
The present administration, in responding to the plight of the citizenry towards this area,embark on the construction of about 26 model schools across the State.
Our correspondent can authoritatively reported that about 11of the schools have been completed and are about to be admitting the first set of students.
According to the statement, “We equally want to seize his opportunity to thank the governor for keeping to his promise made to us during the 2011 general elections to bring hope to parents who could no longer afford to keep their wards in public schools.
“As at that time, about 33,000 students were kept out of secondary schools because of the return of the mission schools. But, today, not only all these students have been re-absolved, more children are in public schools more than ever before. To His Excellency, Sen. Ibikunke Amosun fca CON, we say thank you again,”it said.
The statement submitted that about 250,000 parents and teachers from all the four bloc that make up the association; Egba, Yewa, Ijebu and Remo have shown interest in this epoch making event to honour the governor.