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Mimiko provides free shuttle buses for pupils, renovates schools in Ondo State

By Oluwaseun Akingboye, Akure
07 April 2016   |   1:22 am
As part of efforts to improve the educational sector in Ondo State, the Olusegun Mimiko-led administration has commenced a pilot scheme by introducing free shuttle buses for students....
Mimiko

Mimiko

As part of efforts to improve the educational sector in Ondo State, the Olusegun Mimiko-led administration has commenced a pilot scheme by introducing free shuttle buses for students in public schools. Also, many school across the state have been renovated to make learning enjoyable for pupils and students.

The state governor made these known while speaking at the public presentation of two books in Akure by John Mafo, titled Echoes of the Waves and Wazobian Resolution. He said, “For you to access the level of development in any state or country you need to check what the government is spending on education and health, then you will be able to know if the government is progressing or not. For us as a state, this is a challenge. Inequality is not good for a nation, as growth does not translate to poverty reduction. The best way to stimulate equality is to invest heavily in education and health. We shall continue to invest in these two major sectors to eradicate inequalities”

Also, Ondo State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, stated that the 50-mega schools built across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state would serve as catalysts to enhance social integration among school children to enable them grow without noticeable differences in social status.

According to Akinmade: “The major objective is to close the gap between the rich and the poor in the society,” affirming that the initiative consists of a state-of-the-arts infrastructure, internet facilities, re-creative centres and better equipment and are comparable to what is available in private schools in the state.

Akinmade noted that the initiative would give primary school pupils the opportunity to compete favorably with their counterparts both in Nigeria and outside. The commissioner pointed out that 97 primary schools and 240 secondary schools spread across the three Senatorial Districts had benefitted from the renovation and upgrading initiatives of the administration while N200 million was disbursed by the State Library Board to purchase relevant textbooks for the schools.

The provision of free shuttle buses for the ease of transportation of students, Akinmade noted, is aimed at providing equal opportunity for all segments of society.

Another area Mimiko highlighted is the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo. According to Mimiko: “The University of Medical Sciences the first in Nigeria and second in Africa, and is therefore our strategic response to reverse the brain drain in Nigeria’s medical industry and to create an institutional base for the production of highly-trained and proficient health care manpower to service our ever-growing population”.

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