By Olasunkanmi Akoni
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has approved the upward increase in the payment of both bursary and scholarship awards to students of state origin across tertiary institutions in the country as part of measures to cushion the effects of economic hardship.
Sanwo-Olu also announced the appointments of four members of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, who would serve as Senior Special Assistant, SSA, as representatives of students with the government to interface on issues of concern.
The governor also announced the approval of scholarship awards for indigent, physically challenged persons across the tertiary institutions in the state.
The governor announced these at an interactive session on Tuesday, held in Alausa, Ikeja, with
The session, themed “Students as Strategic Partners in the Governance Process: Challenges and Prospects for Youth Development,” was designed as part of his administration’s commitment to carry along the youths in line with the T.H.E.M.E.S Plus, Developmental Agenda, capturing, youth inclusion.
The governor increased the bursary awards from N50,000 to N60,000 and the scholarship payments from N200,000 to N225,000 for indigenes of the state in tertiary institutions.
Sanwo-Olu also appointed four former Students Union leaders, namely Eniola Opeyemi, Kayode Samuel, Giwa Moore and Adeola Adewunmi, as SSA.
Sanwo-Olu, who reeled out various interventions and programmes of his administration in the tertiary education sector, stressed the need for collaborations to develop an ecosystem to build a solid student-university-government relationship.
He advocated for constant stakeholders’ engagement in the education sector with the government.
He promised to extend the construction of two additional student arcades at two universities to boost engagement and communication among stakeholders.
The Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Tolani Sule, who acknowledged the commitment of the Sanwo-Olu administration towards the implementation of quality education and new development in the tertiary education sector, pledged to sustain the legacy of excellence and continued dialogues with stakeholders to ensure industrial peace.
Lead Speaker, former Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University, Olanrewaju Fagbohun, who stressed the need for effective communication and constructive engagement, consultation and prioritisation on the part of government and school management, urged students to achieve their goals by displaying positive attitudes and guarding the infrastructure provided in schools.
Chairman, NANS, Lagos State, Lekan Alimi, commended the Sanwo-Olu administration for its efforts in the education sector and informed the government about laudable campus programmes that can be supported.
The panel of discussants at the event were unanimously in agreement that stakeholders in the tertiary education sector must work together with the government to strengthen education in the state.
Students’ union leaders from 13 tertiary institutions in the state, including: Lagos State University, Lagos State University of Science and Technology, the University of Lagos, and Yaba College of Technology, were among those in attendance.
Source: Vanguard