Lagos State governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday,
announced an increment in
scholarship and bursary for
students of Lagos State origin
in tertiary institutions.
He said his administration
from 2024 will pay N225,000
and N60,000 as scholarship and
bursary to indigene students, as
against the existing N200,000
and N50,000, respectively.
The governor also announced scholarships for the
less privileged and physically
challenged students in public
tertiary institutions, noting that
the scholarship will not be limited to Lagos indigenes alone.
He also announced the
appointment of four former
Students Union leaders as
his Senior Special Assistants
(SSAs). The appointed SSAs
were Eniola Opeyemi, Kayode
Samuel, Giwa Moore and Adeola Adewunmi.
Governor Sanwo-Olu spoke
during a one-day interactive
session between him and
Students Union leaders and
stakeholders in Lagos State,
organised by the Ministry of
Tertiary Education, with the
theme, ‘Students as Strategic
Partners in the Governance
Process: Challenges and Prospects for Youth Development.’
The event held at the Adeyemi Bero Hall, Alausa, was
attended by members of the
state cabinet, stakeholders in
the tertiary education sector
and delegates from 13 public
tertiary institutions in Lagos
State, which included Lagos
State University, University of
Lagos, Lagos State University
of Science and Technology,
Lagos State University of Education and Yaba College of
Technology, among others.
Speaking during the interactive session, which lasted
for over three hours, Governor
Sanwo-Olu said his administration would continue to engage
students constructively and enhance infrastructure in public
institutions.
He said his administration
will continue to develop an enduring and sustainable ecosystem to create a liveable as well
as workable environment for
students in all the public tertiary institutions in Lagos State.
Speaking on the importance
of the interactive session, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the
meeting is “apt because of the
trending events in our state and
Nigeria. It is a confidence-building process between the government and the governed. It is an
opportunity for students and
other stakeholders to vent their
feelings, opinions, and suggestions on how to overcome challenges confronting our collective existence as a people.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu while
reiterating his government’s
renewed commitment to Youth
Development, Social Inclusion
and Gender Equality in line
with the ‘+’ in his administration’s THEMES+ agenda,
rolled out key achievements of
his government in different sectors, particularly in the tertiary
education sector and called for
collaborations to develop an
ecosystem to build a solid Student-University-Government
relationship.
The governor urged students to keep the hope alive and
rest assured that their welfare
and development will remain
a top priority on his administration’s agenda.
Speaking earlier, Lagos State
Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Mr. Tolani Sule, commended Governor Sanwo-Olu
for his support, assuring that
the ministry would sustain the
legacy of excellence as it continues to dialogue and engage
students and management of
tertiary institutions, as well as
stakeholders in its bid to foster
an atmosphere of peace.
The Commissioner said
Governor Sanwo-Olu’s presence at the interactive session is
a further demonstration of his
administration’s commitment
to quality tertiary education
and youth development.
He said: “A stakeholder
engagement like this becomes
necessary in view of the noble
role that our youths have to play
in our development agenda. I,
therefore commend Mr. Governor for giving accelerated
approval to this programme,
knowing fully that our youths
hold the key to a greater tomorrow for our dear country.
“In spite of the present
social economic challenges
in the country, it is gratifying
to note that the Lagos State
government has continued to
sustain the tempo of excellence
in our tertiary institutions. Students and staff welfare have
remained a top priority of the
state government while various
infrastructural development
projects are either completed or
ongoing across our campuses.
“This is leadership at play.
In the last four and half years
of this administration, it is remarkable to note that not any of
our institutions have witnessed
any student unrest nor staff
industrial disharmony to warrant strike or closure of any of
the state-owned institutions.
“Our academic calendars
have been running smoothly
since the beginning of this
administration. We have continued to enjoy unprecedented
stability in our academic calendars in the last four years.
To me, it is a reflection of leadership quality and administrative excellence at the helm of
affairs.”
Also speaking, the Guest
Speaker and immediate past
Vice Chancellor of Lagos State
University, Prof. Olanrewaju
Fagbohun, described Governor
Sanwo-Olu as a man of legacy.
He commended the Babajide
Sanwo-Olu administration for
its constructive engagement,
dialogue, collaborative problem-solving techniques and
consultation.
Prof. Fagbohun also restated
the need for regular consultation and prioritisation of students in the state for constructive criticism and engagement
of government policies.
He also urged the state government to invest more in infrastructure, rethink student
scholarships, subsidised health
care services and establish
fresh food markets on campuses as well as provide counseling
and support for mental health
issues to challenge the students
to excel.
The panel of discussants,
which comprised of Commissioner for Environment and
Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo
Wahab; Special Adviser to the
Governor on Housing, Mrs.
Barakat Odunuga-Bakare; former Majority Leader of Lagos
State House of Assembly, Hon.
Sanai Agunbiade and former
Students Union President of
Lagos State University (LASU),
Lukman Amolegbe, said stakeholders in the tertiary education sector must work together
with government to strengthen
education in Lagos State.
