The South Korean government is set to begin the second phase of its educational intervention at the Ekiti Smart School, Ijan-Ekiti, Ekiti State. Recall that the South Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has been actively involved in establishing smart schools in six pilot states in Nigeria, including the one in Ekiti State.

The KOICA Smart School project aims to improve access to quality education in Nigeria by leveraging technology. In Ekiti State, the project is being implemented in collaboration with the Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

Executive Chairman of the Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof. Femi Akinwumi, disclosed this yesterday while receiving a delegation from KOICA as the team embarked on an in-depth survey of the smart school project at Ijan-Ekiti.

Akinwumi, while addressing the delegation led by KOICA Deputy Country Director, Baik Kihyun, expressed joy that the state smart school would soon receive more support from the South Korean government through the second phase of intervention from KOICA.

The SUBEB boss, who lauded the decision to begin the second phase of the programme, also said that it would go a long way in improving the capacity of the school, as well as facilitate its reach to rural areas and other parts of the state.

Akinwumi reiterated the commitment of the Biodun Oyebanji-led administration to implementing education policies to boost the basic education sector in the state, noting that leveraging smart technology would further enhance critical thinking and creativity among pupils.

He appreciated KOICA and the South Korean government for the huge investment in smart education, which includes capacity building programmes for teachers, educators and policymakers, among others.

In his response, Kihyun lauded the Oyebanji-led administration for the commitment shown in boosting and promoting education through innovative policies. Kihyun said that Ekiti State had done remarkably well among the six pilot states chosen for the project in Nigeria.

MEANWHILE, the Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, has urged the government at all levels, corporate organisations and philanthropists to invest more meaningfully in education to produce global billionaires and brands.

Bamidele, representing Ekiti Central District in the Senate, gave the charge after the Ekiti State University conferred Doctor of Law (Honoris Causa) on him at its 29th convocation held on its main campus in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State.

In his address at the convocation, the Senate Leader emphasised the significance of education for the socio-economic transformation of nations worldwide, which, according to him, had deployed to attain their development goals and conquer their heinous challenges. He, therefore, challenged public and private actors to return to the drawing board and recommit to the task of investing more meaningfully in people.

In his address, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Ayodele Joseph, enumerated projects, which Bamidele facilitated for the institution to include construction of male and female hostels for medical students, a mini stadium, as well as construction of FM Radio Station.