We Remain Focuse On Educational Development- Makinde Boasts

The Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Oluseyi Makinde has declared his continue supports in the growth of educational sector in the State.

Governor Makinde who made known his intentions at a dinner that was organised in honour of the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Fund (TETFund), Prof. Sulieman Bogoro noted that education will continue to be his primary focus, notwithstanding the growing developmental concerns in other sectors.

The dinner which was held at Government House, Agodi Ibadan has in attendance the Heads of tertiary institutions like the UI VC, Prof. Olayinka; LAUTECH VC, Prof. Ologunde; VC, First Technical University, Ibadan, Prof. Ayobami Salami; Rector, The Polytechnic Ibadan,  Professor Kazeem Adekunle Adebiyi; Provost, Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo, Dr. Rasaki A. Adefabi; Rector,  Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic,  Eruwa,  Dr. Adejumo Peter; Rector, Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki, ESV Kayode Oguntayo Ogunmola; Rector, Oyo College of Agriculture and Technology, Igbo-Ora, Mr. Isiaka Olaniyi Adekunle; Provost, Oyo State College of Education, Lanlate, Dr. Joseph Olusegun Adeagbo, among many others.

Governor Makinde in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Taiwo Adisa retreated that  “his focus on free and qualitative education would remain unchanged, just as he remained committed to the task of moving Oyo State from poverty to prosperity.

According to him, the development of a well-thought-out roadmap for the accelerated development of Oyo State long before he was elected, has paid off, especially because of his fidelity to the propositions in the document.

Governor Makinde, who maintained that his government has identified areas where interventions could aid the development of the state, said he found relationship with TETFund strategic to the state’s agenda on quality education system.

He also commended the TETFund Executive Secretary for making impact by delivering on the mandate of the Trust Fund without bias for political party affiliation or ethnicity, stating that leaders must learn to keep things simple and act in the interest of the nation.

He said: “Our roadmap was well-developed before electioneering and it identified those areas where we think intervention will accelerate development for us. And education is one of them.

We looked at the 20 per cent recommended budgetary allocation by the UNESCO and we looked at our annual budget for a sustainable project in education and we knew there are things we will be to achieve for our tertiary institutions if interventions from TETFund and other critical organisations are in place.

“Knowing that there is a lot of discretionary approach to the utilization of their funds, I thought if there is anyone in this whole country that I need to develop a good relationship with, it would be the Executive Secretary of TETFund.

“When we met during the electioneering period, Professor Bogoro explained to me that TETFund is apolitical and this night is a demonstration of what we spoke about at that particular time. One thing I have learnt from Professor Bogoro is to make an impact.

As leaders, we just have to keep it very simple.

“I want to thank you for your leadership at TETFund, for being apolitical, and for looking at your duty as an assignment for the entire country, irrespective of ethnic background and political leaning. This is the kind of leadership we deserve in this country, and that is what can take this country out of the woods.”

In his response, the TETfund boss, Prof. Bogoro commended Governor Makinde’s priority attention to the development of the education sector, noting that the governor has raised the bar in terms of increasing annual percent funding for education.

“I am told it is 23 per cent and that is definitely one of the highest in this country. I am not sure if there are more than two or three states, if any, that may surpass that percentage. That is commendable.

“It shows the priority that Governor Makinde gives to education. For me, I am not surprised because we are in the South-West where it is said that in education, they lead, and the rest of the country follows.

“There is no doubt about it that in all the indices of investment in education, the South-West leads the rest of the country. For political leadership to demonstrate that in all ramifications, I want to appreciate the governor in the manner he has done it. Bogoro stressed.