Kunle Adelabu
-Engages 5000 students for most brilliant contest, JAMB
Officials of the Association of Tutorial School Operators, Lagos State Chapter (ATSOLAG), Ikorodu Zone, has said that they are providing important services by taking care of students between secondary school and tertiary education in Nigeria.
They said this in Ikorodu, while engaging 5000 students for the third edition of the Most Brilliant Student Contest in Nigeria and JAMB seminar, held at the Ikorodu Hall Town on Wednesday, March 27 and Thursday, March 28, 2024.
According to the organisers, about 32, 000 of the students across various tutorial centres in Ikorodu, wrote the written examinations (pen and paper) out which 5000 were picked for the Computer Based Test (CBT).
After the 2 – day CBT examination, the best 50 will converged again April 1, to go through another round of CBT examination to pick the best 20 candidates that would represent Ikorodu, at the state level and then, national level.
The best overall student will win a car and N200, 000 worth of scholarship, first runner up will go home with a laptop and N150, 000 scholarship and second runner will get a notepad and N100, 000 worth of scholarship.
Mr Kayode Samson, Governor, Association of Tutorial School Operators Lagos State Chapter (ATSOLAG), Lagos chapter, while emphasizing the importance of the association, charged the government not to abdicate its functions to students between secondary school and tertiary institution.
“Government cater for children and young Nigerians, through public primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, what happens to those children between the secondary and tertiary education? Are we saying that they are government responsibilities?”, he asked.
“That’s where our association comes in. We come in to take care of them and provide them with necessary support.
“We are appealing to the government not to leave this responsibility alone to us. These students are teenagers and they may turn to another thing if proper care is not taken of them, that is why we have established this kind of programmes so that we can encourage them and assure them that there are good things in reading.
“They have to be assured that they can become great by reading”, he said.
Explaining the concept of the ‘Most Brilliant Student’ contest, Mr Samson said that 20 students are expected to emerged in each of the 20 councils, to compete at the state level.
“This is the third edition of the contest and we usually start from the Local Government level where the 20 councils in Lagos State will have to produce 20 best students. Thereafter, the best 20 from each of the councils, will converge at the state level and from them, the best 20 will be picked to represent Lagos State at national level”, he said.
“The 20 students that would be representing Lagos State, will also compete with other 20 best students from other states”, he added.
Chairman of the association in Ikorodu, Mr Ajasa Aboyede Timothy, welcoming the students from across different tutorial centres in Ikorodu, said that they are lucky to be attending government recognized centres.
He said that the contest is to measure their knowledge and abilities. He also charged them to be calm and relax while being called into the computer hall for the CBT examinations.
Prince Idowu – Shode Adewale, National Publicity Officer of the association, said that ATSO is intervening to assist the government by impacting on the students and solving some of the challenges facing education in the country.
The National PRO said that the seminar and best student contest have been put together to prepare students for the JAMB and WAEC examinations.
He called on the government to ensure that more tertiary institutions are established and existing ones strengthened to cater for students’ admission.
He also called for a minimum of six-month window between registrating for JAMB and the examination proper, to afford students enough time to prepare.
Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, the outgoing Chairman, Ikorodu Division Resource Development Group (IDRDG) and former Minister for Works, who was a special guest at the gathering, said that the Ikorodu Resource Development Group (IDRDG) is interested and investing in education by establishing e – library and ICT/CBT hub, to assist about 10, 000 students in Ikorodu, sitting for JAMB and WAEC every year
The former Minister for Works also said that aside the SAB Oteju Innovation & ICT Hub which is meant for JAMB and other professional examinations and session, there is also Musediq Alogba E – Library and Research Centre meant for training primary and secondary school students on CBT.
He commended Sen. Tokunbo Abiru and Rep. Babajimi Benson for their support for the establishment of the centres.
“Since last year, we have been doing free CBT training for students participating in JAMB, and also primary pupils sitting for model colleges and others, and they have been recording good results. They have been getting 300 and 250 in JAMB ”, Sen. Ogunlewe said.
He assured tutorial schools tutors that the IDRDG will be willing to further train students in Ikorodu Division, on ICT and Mathematics.
Princess Folashade Olabanji – Oba, Vice Chairman, Ikorodu Local Government and Patronness, ATSOLAG, Ikorodu Zone, in her goodwill message, said that youths are the future of tomorrow.
She charged the 5000 students to be focused and serious with their education, to be great individuals in future.
“I wish that we have more associations like this, Nigeria will definitely be better. I am overwhelmed and most honoured with the presence of these large number of students, and I have no doubt that Nigeria will be great with you as the future”, she said.
“While charging the students to be serious with education through which their future and that of the country can be secured, Princess Oba said, “Education is liberty. Education is freedom and Education is access to everything, so, make sure that you learn, unlearn and relearn, so that you can be better.
“Education is your access to the next level and when you are there, you must also continue to learn”.
“It all starts with a belief before you can achieve anything. You must see yourself somewhere before you can get to that level.
Princess Oba, who is also the Chairmanship aspirant for the Ikorodu LG, also commended the tutors for taking care of the students, providing them with education and preparing them for the tertiary institutions.
Also at the gathering were Prof. Michael Ajetumobi, Vice Chairman, IDRDG, and Mrs Folake, Manager, Ikorodu Town Hall Ikorodu among others.
