Abiodun gives house, cash gifts to academic laureates

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, yesterday, gave a two-bedroom bungalow and N2 million cash to Oladimeji Sotunde, an indigene of the state who emerged as the overall best graduating student of the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Lagos.

Abiodun equally announced that his administration would set an Education Endowment Fund of N5 million in honour of Faith Odunsi, a student of the Ambassadors College, Ota, who emerged winner in the Global Open Mathematics Competition.

The governor made these known at the presentation of outstanding teachers and learners in various competitions, held at the Obas’ Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the state capital.

The event, tagged ‘Celebration of Ogun Laureates 2021,’ was organised by the state to honour students and teachers, who won laurels in different educational completions such as Mathematics quiz, JETS, Teacher of the Year, NYSC Presidential Award and so on.

According to the governor, the awardees had further put Ogun on the global pedestal, hence, the need to fete them.

He attributed the feats recorded by the awardees to his administration’s interventions aimed at rescuing the education sector from the dwindling fortunes inflicted on it by the indifference of the past.

He pointed out that to revamp the education sector in Ogun, his administration focused on infrastructural development, human capital development, provision of conducive environment, among many others, to redeem the sector and restore its lost glory.

He said that the state would continue to put measures in place towards providing quality education necessary for the development of the state.

The governor, who commended the teachers in the state for their commitment and professionalism, saying: “Without doubt, the successes we are witnessing might not have been possible without special contributions.”

He charged teachers, as important stakeholders, to continue to discharge their professional duties creditably beyond the new demands of COVID-19.

In his remark, former Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Peter Okebukola, said that Ogun had been at the forefront of education advancement in the country and charged the laureates to do more to make the state proud.

He commended the Dapo Abiodun-led administration for organising the event to celebrate the Ogun State finest, noting such celebration would serve as motivation to other students and teachers.