… Increases bursary allowance
No fewer than 70 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have hailed Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu for appointing four student leaders from tertiary institutions in Lagos, Eniola Opeyemi, Kayode Samuel, Giwa Moor and Adeola Adewunmi., as Senior Special Assistants, SSAs.
The governor also got applause from the public for increasing the bursary allowance of students of Lagos origin to N60,000 and scholarship grant from N200, 000 to N225,000 for both indigenous and non-indigenes of the state as well as the poor.
The Convener, Campaign for Dignity in Governance & Coalition of 70 Civil Society Organizations, Razaq Olokoba gave the commendations at a press conference addressed on Sunday in Abuja.
The governor had announced the appointment on Tuesday at a One-day interactive session between the governor, students’ union leaders and stakeholders in the state held at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa with the theme “Students as Strategic Partners in the Governance Process: Challenges and Prospects for Youth Development.”
Sanwo-Olu made the appointment following the request by the Lagos State Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Lekan Alimi, demanding that there was a need for the student union to have representatives in government who would interface between the government and the students.
The governor told the students that they are ‘important stakeholders in the governance of Lagos State, urging them to believe in themselves, adding that the country expects so much from them.
“The country is about you and believes in you. You have to believe in yourselves too,” he advised.
The Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Tolani Sule, said the interactive session was a further demonstration of Sanwo-Olu’s administration’s commitment to quality tertiary education and youth development.”
He commended the management of Lagos owned universities and the students for avoiding any students unrest and industrial disharmony that could warrant strike or closure of any of the state owned institutions
The Commissioner also thanked the governor for making students and staff welfare a top priority of the state government as well as embarking on infrastructural development projects across campuses.
The Lead Speaker, former Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University, Professor Lanre Fagbohun, urged the government to be sincere adding that ‘where there is sincere governance, students are always supportive.’
Fagnohun further urged the government to always make room for consultation with the students, adding that students need constant thorough support.
He, however, urged the students to be ‘disciplined and responsive leaders’ and stay away from drugs.
Lekan Alimi, while speaking on behalf of the students, said the union had gone beyond the era of protests and promised to work with the government.
