LASG inaugurates outstanding students into its Diplomatic Corps Initiative

The Lagos State Government on Wednesday honoured  and inaugurated 326 students into its Diplomatic Corps Initiative for Students, a scheme for outstanding students.

The students are from the Education District I of the state which comprises Agege, Alimosho and Ifako-Ijaiye LGAs.

The state Deputy Gov. Idiat Adebule said at the event that the Mr Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration would continue to invest in the future of students for the good of the society.

Adebule, who oversees the state Ministry of Education, was represented by Mrs Sewanu Amosun, the Permanent Secretary in the Deputy Governor’s Office.

The 326 students either won awards during the 2016/2017 academic session or made at least seven As in the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

Adebule said that state’s intervention in education had been yielding positive results.

According to her, improved students’ performance in various examinations and at national and international competitions were some of the effects of the intervention .

“There is no doubt that this award ceremony will encourage and motivate our students to be more serious in their academics in order to win more laurels at both local and international levels and be our pride.

” As a mark of honour, you will equally be inducted as ambassadors for one academic session under the aegis of Education District I’s Corps Initiative which we are inaugurating today.

“You are to promote the good image of the district within and outside the school.

“I want to remind our teachers again that they should remain committed and hardworking.

“Our administration will continue to invest in the future of our children through strategic reforms and planning in the education sector.

“This is to ensure that our children can compete favourably with their peers globally,’’ she said.

Adebule said that the state government would continue to invest in capacity development of its personnel in all schools to further move education forward and provide students with needed skills.

The Wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode, who was represented by the Chief Executive Officer of the Hope for Women in Nigeria Initiative, Mrs Oyefunke Olayinka, advised students to study hard for outstanding success.

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“Hope for Women Initiative (the pet project of Mrs Ambode) was set up to care for the vulnerable – the aged, women, children and youths.

“All you need to enjoy the scholarship of Hope Initiative is to have 6As in WASSCE.

“ It is a total scholarship from year one of the university to the final year. It covers all you need in the university,” she said.

In her remarks, the Tutor General/ Permanent Secretary, Education District I, Mrs Oluwafolayimika Ayandele, said that the Diplomatic Corps Initiative was aimed at honouring students who distinguished themselves.

“We need to celebrate these students to encourage education excellence.

“The diplomatic corps was designed to instigate critical thinking among students and to recognise academic excellence.

“It is about ensuring that children are motivated.  It is important we celebrate outstanding ones and raise the bar of excellence,” she said.

Ayandele said that the state government was passionate about nurturing talents, noting that the awards covered outstanding students in sports, public speaking, vocational and entrepreneurial skills as well as academic attainment.

“In our midst, we have a student with nine A1 and another with seven A1 and two Bs, who have been offered admission into tertiary institutions,” she added.

The tutor-general admitted the students into the  Diplomatic Corps Initiative and decorated one of them who excelled in four events as the Dean.

The district celebrated Master David Fagbemi of Sonmori Comprehensive High School, Agege, and Master Victory Agwu of the State Senior High School, Oyewole, Agege, for excelling in WASSCE.

Fagbemi, who was given Academic Honours Award of Excellence for clinching nine A1 in WASSCE, told newsmen that dedication and focus helped him.

“We can achieve it with hard work; that was my driving force. I knew I could do it.

“I planned to have A1 in nine subjects and I got it. I am very happy,” he said.

Agwu, who got seven A1 and two Bs, hailed his teachers and principal in an interview with newsmen.

52 teachers who nurtured the students were given Letters of Recognition by the government.