The Chairman of the Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, Dele Oshinowo, has obtained the 2024 General Certificate Examination for 200 students in the LCDA.
The council boss said he did that to boost the dwindling interest in education among young Nigerians and to support striving parents during the current economic challenges.
Oshinowo, who spoke through his deputy, Folake Kayode, on Wednesday at the council secretariat, said the importance of education could not be overstated in nation-building.
Kayode, who is also the supervisor for education in the council, said, “Fellow indigenes, as it is our custom to improve and create better opportunities for the indigent persons within the Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, I hereby stand before you today with great pride and joy to announce an initiative by our administration. As your council chairman, it is my pleasure to declare that we will be providing free GCE forms to all indigenes of our community.
“Education is the bedrock of development, and we recognise the financial constraints faced by many of our people. That is the reason for this; this initiative is aimed at alleviating some of that burden and empowering our youths to reach their full potential.”
He noted that the gesture would “increase access to education for all and boost the academic performance and confidence of students in the LCDA.”
The council chairman urged the beneficiaries to make the best of the opportunity and be good ambassadors of the council.
“Also, we parents should endeavour to give our children the necessary support both morally and spiritually so that they will become our pride and that of the nation.
“I am appealing to us all, parents, community and leaders to please give our children the best. A well-trained child is a guarantee for a secure tomorrow,” he said.
The council’s Special Adviser on Education and Students Affairs, Mrs Edunoluwa Olufade, said there was no discrimination in the distribution of the forms, stating that the chairman was only interested in positively affecting the lives of students.