JUST IN: Proffer solutions to Nigeria’s challenges, senator tells educators

Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has called on educational institutions to proffer solutions to the myriad of problems bedeviling the country.

Speaking as the keynote speaker at the maiden edition of the annual Lectures and Award Series of Nigeria Union of Teachers, Lagos, titled, ‘Development through education: Learning and livelihood,’ Bamidele said no nation could develop beyond the capacity of its educational institutions and system, adding that the professionalism and productivity of educational institutions would determine the quality of their products and the impact of their research and training endeavors on the larger society.

 ‘‘More than any other time in the annals of this nation, the education sector, especially the tertiary institutions must be ready to take a lead in proffering time-tested policy options that can best help to diversify our economy, maintain peace and tranquillity and create better citizens in knowledge, virtues, values, and character, who will become great assets to national development.’’

Guest speaker, Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo, said, “You must have a vision, I aligned myself with the vision of the Lagos State and It is the implementation of policy that matters. We want education to be outstanding during Governor Sanwo-Olu’s time.’’

Lagos  State NUT chairman, Mr Akintoye Hassan, said,  ‘‘Today,  August 5, is just exactly a year that my officers and I were elected, so to some people, this occasion is a celebration of our one year in office, they may be correct.

However, it also coincides with the birthday of the pillar of NUT Nigeria, a reformer of modern-day unionism, who has represented the Teachers of Africa at the World level, Michael Olukoya.’’

He added that the next edition of the Annual Lecture shall be referred to as, Michael Alogba Olukoya Annual Lecture Series, saying it would be a yearly tradition in Lagos State.