Kunle Adelabu
The Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, Oba (Barr.) Abdul-Semiu Orimadegun Kasali and the former Head of Service, Lagos State, Prince Adesegun Ogunlewe, have commended members of the Bursars Association of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology (BURSCON), for ensuring peaceful co – existence despite challenges that is threatening the unity of the country.
They also charged them to ensure that they use their professional abilities to ensure that funds are managed prudently for the development of the educational sector in the country.
The royal father, who was a former State Counsel and former top government functionary, gave the charge on Thursday (yesterday) when the President and members of the Bursars Association of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology paid a courtesy visit to the Adeboruwa palace in Igbogbo.
Oba Kasali, in his royal remarks, charged Bursars from various institutions to ensure that they do what is necessary, especially with funds at their disposal, in ensuring productivity in the educational sector.
“You have important roles to play in managing the finances of our institutions and as principal officers, it behooves you to do the needful in upliftment of our educational sector”, the royal father charged.
“I want to appeal to you to be prudent in the management of funds and whatever that you do with the funds must be beneficial to the staff and students.
“I thank you for coming to Lagos, especially our own institution in Ikorodu, to hold your meeting”.
While commending them for sustaining their gathering despite serious distrust in the country, the royal father also charged them to ensure that the unity of Nigeria is sustained.
Prince Adesegun Ogunlewe, the former Head of Service who is currently a member of the Governing Council, Lagos State Polytechnic, said that the bursars’ gathering has rekindled hope regarding the the unity of the country.
While stating that the gathering of officers in charge of funds in Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology across the country has further proven that Nigeria will surmount all political obstacles, Prince Ogunlewe also charged them to ensure that educational institutions in the country are financially sustainable.
“It is my pleasure to be here this afternoon to join our Kabiyesi, Oba Kasali, to receive Bursars from various Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology of the federation”, he said.
“We are indeed very grateful and highly pleased that you find our palace worthy of your visit while in Lagos.
“Your coming together from various states has rekindled our hope that all is not lost in Nigeria despite the fact that we are going through challenges”, Prince Ogunlewe stated.
“Whatever challenge we are seeing in Nigeria today is nothing but all about politics”, he added.
“I know that we love ourselves passionately in Nigeria.
“I was once a Consultant for the MDG, I work in Sokoto, Bayelsa, Delta and other places and I know that Nigerians are people with affections”, he recalled.
“Your coming together will reinforce the belief that Nigeria is one since you are coming together from Gombe, Rivers and other parts of the country.
“Ensure that you exchange notes on how to improve our institutions so that they do not collapse”, he advised.
“You are doing a good job in regulating our finances.
“Your colleague with us in Lagos State Polytechnic is a good ambassador with the way he has been handling LASPOTECH finances and you can go to sleep with him incharge”, Prince Ogunlewe said.
Mr Amos Fabinu, President, Bursars Association of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology in Nigeria, said that the group was visiting Adeboruwa palace as part of its tradition.
He said that the gathering was to exchange experiences from members’ respective duty posts and also share problems together in the best interest of the system.
“We are associations of Bursars in all Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology in Nigeria. We usually gather for meetings to share experiences on how to serve our institutions best”, he said.
“We rub minds to solve problems in our various institutions.
“It is our practice to always pay homage wherever we are holding meetings and that informs our visitation to the palace today.
“We are happy to be here today and meet with Kabiyesi, chiefs and other eminent persons”
