Kunle Adelabu
About 1000 stakeholders that attended the 4th Ikorodu Division Education Stakeholders’ Summit, have welcomed the idea of establishing a divisional endowment fund to address the challenges facing education and also assist the government in developing the sector.
They gave their approval after the idea was presented at the summit attended by royal fathers, top government functionaries, teachers, parents, students among others.
The summit themed, ‘Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education: The Panacea to Nigeria Participation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution”, was organized by the Ikorodu Division Human Resources Development Board (IDHRDB), under the auspices of the Ikorodu Division Resource Development Group (IDRDG).
Dr Waziri Babatunde Adisa, a senior lecturer, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Lagos, was the guest speaker that spoke extensively on the summit theme held at the Arch. Michael Olutusen Onafowokan Auditorium, Ikorodu Ultra – Modern Town Hall, Ikorodu, on Thursday, December 1, 2022.
The summit was organized in honour of Late Prof. Ayodele Awojobi, the first African to be awarded a Doctor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at the Imperial College, London, and Emeritus Prof. Sanni Sikiru Adebayo, first blackman to be admitted into MIT School of Chemical Engineering Practice and first Professor of Chemical Engineering in Africa, both of whom were honoured as Educational Personalities.
Presenting the proposal to the large audience, Prince Adesegun O. Ogunlewe, former Head of Service (HOS), Lagos State, who chaired the planning committee for the 4th education summit, said that an Endowment Fund is a financial guarantee to support the Government Investments on Education.
He recalled that there was an Education Endowment Fund supported by an Edict of 1989 which led to the launching of the initiative in the five (5) Divisions of the State which yielded additional funds to support provision of classrooms, desks and chairs and as well as maintenance of school facilities.
While commending the Lagos State Government for its funding of education since the creation of the state in 1967, the former HOS added that there is a need for maintenance and sustenance of educational infrastructures.
“However, for us to achieve and maintain the gains anticipated, the schools environment must be inviting for both teaching and learning”, Prince Ogunlewe said.
“As a Division of Lagos State, we are sincerely grateful to all the Government Administrators since the creation of the State. We are particularly grateful to the present Administration under the leadership of Mr. Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, for the new blocks of classrooms, erection of fences and other facilities provided in Primary and Secondary Schools in Ikorodu Division. annot thank you enough for the new University of Science and Technology put in place this year 2022.
“However, we realised that you squeezed out the money for all these Education projects from the little resources available to the State inspite of the enormous challenging problems calling for attention in other sectors”.
Adducing further reasons for the need for the Ikorodu Division Education Endowment Foundation, Prince Ogunlewe said that many of the old structures in many schools in Ikorodu today were once new and needing replacement and maintenance which the government alone cannot do.
“We have gone round the schools to capture the beauty of some of the new blocks of classrooms to express how delighted we are. Yoruba pa owe “Arugbo se ogeri”, some of the school blocks that have challenges today were once like these elegant structures”, he said.
“Experience of life has taught us that with age, there are bound to be depreciation in the present status of these buildings.
“Therefore, to have these structures as minimum standard in our school environment, there must be regular and consistent maintenance.
“We appreciate the government policy of free and compulsory education in Primary and Secondary School levels aimed at ensuring that all children of school age are caption. This has made some parents to show minimum concern about the Education of their children, thus, heaping total responsibilities on the Local and State Governments, particularly, in an environment where payment of taxes are not regarded as mandatory even when the law says so.
“The implication is that Government strives to shoulder the responsibilities with the little resources available but to be honest, the gaps are there”.
Declaring that the Group has resolved on the initiative as best way of improving infrastructures in schools, sustaining them and ultimately bring about quality education, Prince Ogunlewe presented the proposal to the stakeholders at the summit.
“Your Excellency, Royal Fathers, Ladies and Gentlemen, IDRDG/IDHRDB deliberated on these observed challenges on education infrastructures at various meetings and came to the conclusion that it would be ideal to present a platform of an Education Endowment Fund to enable willing Parent Forum, Community Development Association (CDA), Old Students Association of Primary and Secondary Schools in Ikorodu Division, Corporate Organisations (under CSR), Prominent Families, Religious Organisations, Friends and well-wishers of Ikorodu Division to contribute willingly towards supporting and collaborating with the State Government on maintenance of classrooms building, teaching aids and other facilities in our Primary and Secondary Schools”, he said.
“We are here to present this programme to this Summit for deliberation for acceptance and modality for the way forward”, the former HOS submitted.
The guest speaker, Dr Waziri Babatunde Adisa, speaking on STEM education, said if well implemented, it woud bring about reduction of poverty, improve economy and cause rapid development.
While stating that for STEM education to have the desire impacts, the lecturer said that its implementation must be deliberate while calling for provision of scholarship for STEM students.
He also charged government and the general society to setup trust fund to support STEM education while also stating that teaching of the subjects must be student – centered.
Otunba Sen (Dr.) Kingsley Adeseye Ogunlewe, FNSE, KWJ, former Minister of Works and Chairman, Ikorodu Division Resource Development Group (IDRDG), speaking earlier, said that STEM education is critical to the nation building and charged that its subjects must start at the primary education level.
“The significance of STEM education to our nation’s building cannot be over emphasized. Our world is changing, robotic education is now taught at primary education level, therefore, there is a need to awaken our education system in order to be able to compete with other nations”, he said.
“In an ever-changing, increasingly complex world, it is more important than ever that our youths are equipped with the appropriate skills to demonstrate problem solving, information analysis and evaluation of evidence to make right decisions”.
The former Senator said that Ikorodu Division can produced 25,000 STEM graduates in five years if there are deliberate plans towards STEM education development.
“According to our research and documentation department over ten thousand (10,0000) students sit for West African Senior School Certificate Examination in Ikorodu Division of the state and if 50 per cent of the students are encouraged to study science-oriented subjects it will mean twenty five thousand (25,000) STEM graduates would be produced in five years”, he said.
Chairman, Ikorodu Division Human Resources Development Board (IDHRDB), Emeritus Prof. Kunle Ade Wahab, also speaking, said that the concept provides students hands – on learning which allows them to develop various skills.
“It teaches our children more than science and mathematics concepts. It focuses on hands-on learning with real world applications which helps to develop variety of skill sets for creativity and competitiveness in the 21st century and Ikorodu Division must not be lagging behind”, the scholar said.
Discussants at the summit, which included Mrs Folashade Adefisayo, Commissioner for Education, Barr. Tokunbo Philip Wahab, Special Adviser on Education, Mr Olatunbosun Alake, Special Adviser on Innovation and Technology, Ms. Moronke Azeez, Executive Secretary, LASTVEB and Mr Afoabi Abiodun, Chief Executive Officer, Zkteco West Africa, also emphasized the importance of the STEM education and its impact on the society, while efforts by government to encourage science subjects and general improvement of educational facilities were also stated.
Also at the summit were royal fathers: Ayangbure of Ikorodu, His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi, His Royal Majesty, Oba Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, His Royal Majesty, Oba Bashir Shotonwa, the Sekumade of Ipakodo, as well as Principals, Head Teachers, students, members of Parents’ Forum, Old Students’ Associations, Market representatives, Security agencies and Community Development Associations among others.
