The Senator representing Ogun Central and Chairman, Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, has charged students in the state to embrace education and courage, saying it remains the only passport to development.
Salisu frowned at the growing notion among youths that education is a scam, noting that it has produced great men and women in society, especially in Ogun State.
He said his passion for education was shaped by his parents’ counsel 46 years ago, noting that shortly after his mother’s death, he realised that education was the only way to be part of society.
The lawmaker spoke on Wednesday at the annual SAS Omoyayi Educational Support Programme held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, with the theme, “Investing in Education, Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders.”
Reaffirming his commitment to promoting education, digital literacy and ICT skills, Salisu urged the students to see themselves as future senators, saying they now have better schools and enough examples to inspire them.
“You must focus on your education. Whenever you’re convinced that you’re doing the right thing, don’t be afraid to be different. Keep on doing it. The only passport to development, to be part of society, is education,” he said.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, reaffirmed the commitment of the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration to improving the quality of education in the state.
Arigbabu urged the senator to continue to support learners to excel, stressing that education is the best empowerment anyone can receive.
Also speaking, the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Oludaisi Elemide, likened the gesture to planting, saying its value would only be appreciated when the children become great in the future.
He noted that empowering people with education gives them 95 percent of what they need in life and urged the students to make good use of the opportunity and reciprocate when they become successful.
Meanwhile, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Comrade Noah Sewakanu, urged the students to make judicious use of the materials distributed, adding that they must study hard and remain good ambassadors of the state to become great in future.
