Friday, 29th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search

Lagos lauds lawmakers for supporting upgrade of CoEs, poly to universities

By y Gbenga Salau and Adaku Onyenucheya
04 July 2021   |   3:09 am
Lagos State government has commended the leadership and members of the Lagos State House of Assembly for giving legislative backing to the planned upgrade of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education

Lagos State House of Assembly

Adebowale Seeks Support On Completion Of Lagos-Badagry Expressway

Lagos State government has commended the leadership and members of the Lagos State House of Assembly for giving legislative backing to the planned upgrade of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Ijanikin, and Sir Michael Otedola College of Primary Education to the University of Education, just as the Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, will also be upgraded to the Lagos State University of Science and Technology.

 
Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Education, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, who gave the commendations, while speaking on the status of the proposed two-state universities, noted that their establishment may be faster and earlier than expected, given the urgent attention and legislative support to the matter by the lawmakers.
 
The Special Adviser lauded the lawmakers for supporting good governance in the state through quality legislation, as the House on Thursday debated two bills proposing the establishment of two tertiary institutions in the state.
 
In his words: “I must express our appreciations to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa and members of the State House of Assembly for the success we have achieved in education and other critical sectors. Their support at all times and quality legislations have made possible good governance we are enjoying in the state today.
 
“We are particularly happy that the lawmakers have thrown their support behind the establishment of the universities of education as well as that of science and technology in demonstration of the state government’s commitment to the growth of education and technology in the state. I am confident, history of good governance will be so kind to the speaker and members of the great assembly whenever we are reflecting on activities that led to a new Lagos of our collective dream,” Wahab stated.
 
According to him, the passing of the bills into law will ensure that the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Otto-Ijanikin, and Sir Michael Otedola College of Primary Education, are upgraded to the Lagos State University of Education, while the Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, would be upgraded to Lagos State University of Science and Technology with a special interest in vocational and entrepreneurship skills development.
 
He pointed out that it is obvious that LASU can no longer cope with the admission needs of the large student population in the state, hence, the need for the establishment of more universities, stressing that when the two new universities commence operation, they will add value to science, technology, vocational and entrepreneurship skills development needed for rapid socio-economic growth of the state and the nation at large. 
 
The Special Adviser also disclosed that the bills, which scaled the second reading on the floor of the House, have been sent to the House Committee on Education (Tertiary) by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, for further consideration as well as a directive to report back to the House in two weeks.

Meanwhile, the Special Adviser, Office of Civic Engagement, Lagos State, Princess Aderemi Adebowale, has implored the motoring public and other stakeholders to support the Lagos State government in eliminating human and other factors that could hinder or mar the timely completion of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway project.
   
Adebowale made the call at a sensitisation programme on the rehabilitation and upgrading of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, organised by the Office of Civic Engagement in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure.

 
Adebowale stressed that road infrastructure plays a crucial role in the socio-economic development of any society, as it paves the way for the efficient movement of goods and services, as well as promotes a wide variety of commercial and social activities.
 
She said it was due to the socio-economic importance of road infrastructure, that the Lagos State Government, in 2009, embarked on the rehabilitation and upgrading of the Lagos-Badagry road into a 10- lane highway, with provision for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lanes and a two-way light rail corridor from Orile to Okokomaiko.
 
The special adviser noted that the expressway is a major access route into Nigeria from neighbouring countries in West Africa such as Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Gambia and Guinea, among others.
 
According to her, the Badagry Division of the state is one of the most preferred tourist destinations in Nigeria and holds a huge economic potential for the state if properly and adequately harnessed, adding that for this to be achieved, a good and accessible road is a must for the axis.
   
“We can all easily appreciate the imperative for the rehabilitation and upgrade of Lagos-Badagry Expressway. The benefit accruable from this project is just too enormous to not make concerted efforts in ensuring its timely delivery and prevent its abuse.
   
“This project is in consonance with the first and fourth pillars of the T.H.E.M.E.S. Development Agenda of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration, of Traffic Management and Transportation as well as making Lagos 21st Century Economy’.  It is in the light of the strategic importance of this road that we are gathered here this afternoon to engage one another with a view to charting a new course on the best and fastest ways to eliminate the human factors that could be a clog in the wheels of the progression and timely completion of this project,” Adebowale stressed.

0 Comments