BEING THE ADDRESS DELIVERED BY SENATOR ADEGBENGA SEFIU KAKA AT THE COMMISSIONING OF 2-BLOCKS OF THREE CLASSROOMS EACH AT OKE-SOPEN & AGUNBOYE IN IJEBU NORTH LOCAL GOVT AREA; TODAY, SUNDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER, 2014. TITLED: GRASS ROOT RECOGNITION AND EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. My Lords Spiritual Islamically and Christianity, President and Members of Congress of Ijebu-Igbo Community, Leaders and Members of Various Political, Social and Cultural Groups, Family and Friend of Late Akogun ‘Tola Okuneye, Family and Friends of Chief (Mrs.) Caroline Anike Williams, Members of Ogun East Senatorial Advisory Committee, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, Gentlemen of the Press. It is with a rekindled hope that I welcome you all to another milestone in motivational efforts, through Grassroot Recognition and Educational Development. I have repeatedly stated that the antidote to continuous rural-urban migration resulting in urban slums creation; populated by unemployed, unemployable and under-employed able-bodied persons, is the systematic development of the rural areas. It will facilitate the retention of able-bodied persons in the rural areas, creation of wealth through employment generation via Agriculture and Value addition. It will also conserve scarce resources often thrown at urban renewal problems thus creating further slums in our cities. Similarly when Late Dr. Tai-Solarin was asked to proffer solutions to the myriad of problems facing the Nation in order of priority; He stated, “Education! Education!! Educaton!!! and Education!!!!” in that order. Little wonder then, that in 1955, Chief Obafemi Awolowo made free education the cornerstone of all his welfarist programmes, and Chief Olabisi Onabanjo invented the Public – Private – Partnership in Education with the community inspired construction of numerous schools in 1979, that made fresh graduate teachers to become Vice-Principals and Principals within two to three years of engagements, to fill the various vacancies created by the innovation. Over the years, the glory faded away as teachers were de-motivated, pupils demoralized and made to learn under the trees, bare floor and in some cases dilapidated classroom block. The parents became disillusioned about there children / wards education, with little or no contribution from the once vibrant PTA in many schools. Some Old Students Association of some reputable schools keeps on trying their best with little or no encouragement from the Government of the day at all levels. As it is often said by social scientist that, “every behaviour is a motivated behaviour”, the above scenario inflamed my passion for a motivated behaviour to seek for recognition at the grass root of worthy individuals dead or alive for honor, and to contribute in my own modest way to the advancement of education in an egalitarian manner. History is thus being further made with donations, aside from constituency projects, of token provision of a block of 3 - classrooms each to two Local Primary Schools that were deprived of decent environment for learning over a long period. Being commissioned today are: 1. The Saint Peter’s Primary School, Agunboye, Ijebu-Igbo, established in 1909, happened to be the only school in that community. The number of classrooms was gradually reduced from 12 to only 2 for the entire primary 1-6 leading to overcrowding and gradual exodus of pupils to other neighboring communities. The dilapidated remnants of the abandoned blocks became a death trap for innocent pupils and staff alike over the last 10 years. Hence my promise and fulfillment of re-construction of one of the blocks, which was demolished and re-constructed as my token donation for the advancement of education within the rural community. 2. The St. John’s Primary School, Oke-Sopen, Ijebu-Igbo, was established by the Catholic Church in 1914. But the entire dilapidated blocks of classrooms were completely wrecked by the storm some times in April, 2014. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the State Government and Local Government Authorities were on ground with fan fare to access the situation. Though I understand the NEMA provided some relief materials, their where-about remain largely unknown, as the re-roofing/rehabilitation of some classrooms, after the one we are commissioning was started from the scratch and completed, is actually a UBEC/SUBEB 2010 delayed project, as could be seen on the walls. 3. The commissioning holding today is, also being used as motivational tool at the grassroot in recognition of those who had or are exemplarily still leading by example and not by precept or fake living such as:- (a). Mrs Caroline Anike Williams, a virtuous woman with all known emulative traits of decent living. As a retired teacher with discipline in English Language and Mathematics (a rare combination), on return to Nigeria after about 15 years sojourn in UK. She offered herself for election as councilor in 1987 along with the likes of highly revered Reverend Badejo of blessed memory. Their campaign then was issue-based, devoid hooliganism, bribery and lies. Their conduct was exemplary and motivational to the decent ones. On completion of her tenure, Chief (Mrs.) Anike Williams the incorruptible woman had no qualms in converting her only hi-ace bus to commercial use, plying Ijebu Igbo- Ibadan route as commercial-female driver. This was in addition to her block making industry. It is based on this rare character of contentment and ability to fend for oneself within available means as (Omo Olufowore Seteje) that prompted my naming this model block of classroom at her home-stead in Agunboye after her to serve as motivation and encouragement for those who may want to emulate decent livelihood of this octogenarian- in- making among the present and coming generation. (b). Late Akogun Tola Okuneye, may his industrious but gentle soul rest in peace. He was a motivational embodiment for the community, without him and many people being conscious of this throughout his life span. After his modern III and Trade Centre Education, he finally settled for the furniture business. The sky became the limit for our Dear Akogun, without joining the bandwagon of the rural-urban drift throughout his career that span over five decades. Yet he was influential, well endowed-financially, through legal means. He became the symbol of furniture making in Ijebu land, Ogun State and indeed the entire country without venturing out of the community for a moment. A proof that no one can ever conceal the glory of the sun and the fact that with intelligence, dedication and industry we can achieve the lofty heights wherever be our location. This is one of the reasons for my passion as an apostle of rural development rather than over concentration of urban development/ renewal of slum as a quick antidote for rural-urban migration, solution to unemployment and poverty. It is based on the above sterling qualities that the man who lived and died for his community, Ijebu Igbo, that this token donation of a modest 3- classroom block is being donated in his memory. And also to ginger the 3 tiers of government to also discharge their responsibilities not only in building structures but imbibing the maintenance culture. In round up my brief speech. I am joining the commendation train for the great sacrifice made by Dr. (Mrs.) Amayo Adadevoh, for laying down her life for me and you to triumph over Ebola. Also commendation to the Federal Government, Lagos State Government and Rivers State government including other States of the Nation for a wonderful performance in curtaining the scourge of Ebola Virus Diseases. I hereby plead for the stakeholders in the education sector to continue to do the needful to contain the virus. Our children should be encouraged to resume classes as scheduled. The NUT and parents to continue to press for adequate preventive measures against to the diseases without jeopardizing our status in the international communities and the interest of the education of our precious children. Alhaji Adegbenga Sefiu Kaka, Senator, Ogun East Senatorial District, Ogun-State, Nigeria.
Posted on: Sun, 21 Sep 2014 15:58:00 +0000
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