Kidnapping: Ambode assures parents of wards safety in Lagos schools

…As deputy gov inaugurates new model college

By Gabriel Dike

Worried by recent security breaches and kidnapping in Lagos schools, the state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has assured concerned parents of their wards’ safety, as the state introduces new security measures to check the growing menace. 

Ambode who gave this assurance during the foundation-laying ceremony of a new model school building at Angus Memorial High School, Igbobi, Somolu, Lagos, in an address read on his behalf by his deputy, said that the groundbreaking event is further proof of his government’s commitment to the reformation and strengthening of public school system in Lagos. The ceremony was performed by the Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Idiat Adebule, who is also the Commissioner for Education.

“Our commitment is to ensure that students in public schools are given the best in terms of quality teaching and learning environment,’’ Ambode said while promising that his administration is out to ensure that the new model block of classrooms being constructed in public secondary schools compare favourably with any in leading countries of the world, not only in terms of provision of teaching and learning aids but also in terms of world-class structures.

According to him, aside its aesthetic value, the new building would enhance the security of students, staff and schools materials in the face of the recent security breaches in schools. He stressed that his administration has made efforts through policies and programmes that place high premium on education as a vehicle for continued and future prosperity of the state.

He noted that his administration’s efforts have resulted in improved performance of public school students in the May/June 2016 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) where there was an increase, by 13.14 per cent, of candidates who passed WASSCE with five credits including English and Mathematics. “This development is most assuring and a measure of what to expect when the various performance enhancing programmes being put in place are fully implemented,’’ he said.

In her speech, Dr. Adebule described the foundation-laying ceremony of the model college, which comprises 36 classrooms, library, staff rooms, multipurpose hall, laboratories, principal/vice-principal’s offices and modern toilet facilities for both Junior and senior schools, as an epoch-making event. She commended Governor Ambode for his dedication to the transformation of the education sector, adding that the aesthetics would boost the morale of students and teachers.

Adebule, who is an alumnus of the college, said that the location of the new building block is a testimony of the love Ambode have for the Lagos West Senatorial District and promised on behalf of the education family to “take ownership of the project and use it judiciously upon completion.’’

The deputy governor disclosed that the intervention of the administration in schools has yielded results, adding that apart from the state’s students’ outstanding performance in May/June 2016 exams, Lagos emerged the overall best state at the 2016 Robotics competition held in Lagos and would represent Nigeria at the World Robotics Olympiad holding in New Delhi, India.

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