The Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Alli-Balogun, has stated that the state government is committed to improving technical education among students in the state.

Alli-Balogun added that technical education will help to create more job opportunities and reduce youth employment within the state.

This was disclosed according to information obtained on the state government’s website on Thursday.

The commissioner stated this while addressing students of the Lagos State Technical College, Ado-Soba, along the Lagos Badagry Expressway, during one of his unscheduled visits to some schools in the state.

He said, “I encourage you to show more commitment and see yourselves as business owners in the near future and also urge you to stay out of trouble, remain focused and ensure you come out tops in your skill training and serve as a role model to others who are coming behind you.”

The commissioner also advised the students to steer clear of vices including bullying, drug abuse and cultism, adding that the students should always share their thoughts and experiences about the various state government interventions in the education sector with their parents.

Alli-Balogun further stressed that the present administration has provided the tools they need to succeed and will not relent in providing more if necessary.

“The state will continue to support graduates of technical colleges to be self-reliant by empowering them with adequate skills and resources to become employers of labour,” he assured.

“The state technical colleges are positioned to train students not only for technical expertise but also to be creative and venture into start-ups by combining their technical skills with entrepreneurship”, he explained.

Earlier, Alli-Balogun and his team had paid an unscheduled visit to Festac Junior and Senior Grammar School as well as Sari Iganmu Senior Secondary School and other five schools within the complex at Coker Orile where he emphasised the need for every hand to be on deck to provide a quality education that the students need.

Alli-Balogun urged the “principals and vice principals” to lead by example and “share experience of classroom management.”

“This is to show leadership qualities that can be emulated by young teachers around them,” he added.

The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Foundation has rewarded Adaeze Onaro, a 15-year-old student of Fountain Heights Secondary School, Surulere, Lagos, for winning the 2023 National Essay Competition (NEC) sponsored by the bank.

While the overall winner received a prize of N5 million in scholarship, the first and second runners-up received N3 million and N2.5 million grants, respectively, among other gifts.

At the official unveiling of the winners in Lagos 11 other students from various parts of the country also won various prizes and received accolades.

Oliver Alawuba, group managing director/Chief Executive Officer, UBA, commended the winners, saying the bank is committed to grooming future leaders for Africa through the competition and other initiatives.

He noted the bank’s commitment to reclaim Africa’s lost glory and that through quality education the continent will rise.

“The focus of the national essay competition is the African youth. The objective is to improve the critical thinking ability and reading skills of African youth and position them for leadership on the continent,” Alawuba said,

Bola Atta, CEO of UBA Foundation, the bank’s corporate social responsibility arm in charge of the competition, said, “the quality of entries that we received this year was amazing. And the quality of the winners is even more amazing. They are just excellent, fast-paced with ability and talent.”

He noted that the initiative has been recording improvement every year since its launch 13 years ago.

According to Atta, participants were tasked with exploring the realm of artificial intelligence and its potential augmentation of their learning abilities through research-driven approaches.

AbdulHameed Khadija of Sweet Haven High School, Kano, emerged as the first runner-up, claiming a scholarship valued at N3 million. Chukwuma-Okoh Naomi of Queens College, Yaba, Lagos, was recognised as the second runner-up, earning a scholarship worth N2.5 million.

Asabe Kabir, a professor of African Literature at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), who was among the panel of judges, said since its launch 13 years ago, the 2023 edition received the highest number of entries of almost 12,000.

The Edo State University Uzairue has presented certificates of schoolarship award to 26 students for the who are academically qualified but may face financial problem towards the course of their Educational pursuit in the university and cannot afford quality and world class education.

Presenting the certificate to the beneficiaries 2023/2024 academic session , the Vice Chancellor of the university Engr Prof Emmanuel Aluyor, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics, Engr Prof V A. Balogun said that the university since inception have been committed to education and social responsibility in Edo state and Nigeria at large.

He further stated that the university has been at the forefront of promoting quality education for developing students’ learning through the provision of standard educational programmes and facilities.

He said the full and Indigent schoolarship award which stared in 2016 have grown in the number of applicants as the number is a testament to the rapid technology advancement, teaching and learning that are available in the university.

The Vice Chancellor expressed appreciation to the state governor Mr Godwin Obaseki for his unwavering support for education and his vision for a brighter and more educated future for the citizens of Edo State and Nigeria at large.

According to him, “the governor’s commitment to empowering the youth through education is truly commendable and the schoolarship initiative is also a testament to his dedication to building a more properous and educated society”, he added.

He also commended the Chancellor, council and management of the university for their tireless efforts in making the initiative a reality saying that their providing opportunities for deserving students is pivotal in ensuring that education remains a beacon of hope and empowerment.

Prof Aluyor stated that the full and Indigent schoolarship are a reflection of the University’s commitment to inclusivity and equal access to quality education.

“These schoolarship are designed to support students who have demonstrated exceptional academic performance and at the same time may face financial challenges in pursuing their education”.

While congratulating the awardees for their hard work, dedication and academic achievement, urged them to continue to excel in their academic pursuits.

He said the university will continue to play its part in the transformative power of education and shaping the future leaders and contribute to the society.

In his remarks, the registrar of the university, Mr. Habib Ekhalefo while congratulating the beneficiaries said the university has zero tolerance either for examination malpractice, cultism and other related vices adding that anyone that breaks any of the university rules will be fully penalized as the university law book would be given to them.

It would be recalled that 5 students received full schoolarship award which covers both the fees and accomodations while 21 students received indigent schoolarship award which covers only the fees without accomodations.