Abimbola Abatta, Osogbo
Osun State Governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola has said his administration is committed to change the negative narratives of illiteracy, poverty, hunger and insecurity through education and youth development.
This is part of the efforts of the Oyetola-led administration to make Osun prosperous socially and economically.
Oyetola assured students of tertiary institutions in the state of continuous support through various government intervention to ensure quality education and a better learning environment.
He said this, on Friday, through his Senior Special Assistant on Student Affairs and Social Mobilisation, Kehinde Ayantunji while presenting two vehicles to the two leading students’ associations in the state, National Association of Osun State Students (NAOSS) and National Association of Nigerian Students, Joint Campus Committee ( NANS/JCC) in Osogbo.
The governor said despite the current economic reality, reasonable investment at all level of education is not negotiable to secure a bright future for the larger majority in the state to fastrack development in all facet of our society.
According to him, “Beyond the security of life and property, one of the best approaches to fight crime and poverty is to invest in education and ensure productive engagement of youths through entrepreneurship, agriculture and other skill acquisitions.
“The focus of this administration is to offer its best to change the negative narratives of illiteracy, poverty, hunger and insecurity which informed the state government consistent commitment to education and youth development to make Osun prosperous socially and economically.”
He urged the students and youths in the state to take the advantage of various intervention from the current administration especially in agriculture, mining and other skill acquisition to secure gainful employment.
He explained that the state budgeted close to N2 Billion on various youth intervention programmes to take many people out of the street and restore their hope and confidence about the prosperity of Nigeria and Osun state.
“No matter the situation, our consensus as government and students should always be progress and development of Osun,” the governor added.
In his remarks, the Chairman, NANS/JCC Osun axis, Comrade Agbogunleri Michael commended the governor while urging him not to relent in attending to other critical demands from the students.
Agbogunleri said “the hallmark of this administration that we cherished most is honesty and consistency, the moment His Excellency say yes, be rest assure of fulfilment and timely implementation. The last time we met him was December 2020, and within three months, he has approved the construction of selected internal roads in our campuses as demanded and today we are receiving two space buses. This is novel and rare in Nigerian politics.”
Also, the President of NAOSS, Comrade Sanusi Wasiu described Oyetola as a model of humility and responsiveness.
Wasiu urged the governor to look into the issue of bursary and scholarship as a form of academic support for indigent students.