OSOPADEC Chairman, Elder Sam Erejuwa has lauded students of Ilaje and Ese-Odo LGAs studying in higher institutions across the country for being purposeful and resilient in spite of the environmental hostilities and hardships being experienced in their various communities.

Erejuwa said this while hosting in his office the National Executives of Federation of Ese-Odo Local Government Students (FELGOS) on Wednesday 7th December.

According to him, “when I see Students from Ese-Odo and Ilaje in higher institutions, I marvel at how they gained admission. No doubt, it is a result of hard work. We (OSOPADEC) are concerned and committed to the educational development of the mandate areas. One of the initiatives we are presently pursuing is the mobile computer initiative aimed at training our people on how to operate the computer. We have already gotten the approval of Mr. Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu SAN, CON, who is not only a key stakeholder of our land; but equally a champion of qualitative education. By the grace of God, this plan will take off next year”.

Erejuwa further affirmed that the computer training initiative will be helpful to secondary school leavers when sitting for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Examination which is now written electronically (CBT). He expressed optimism that with this, students from the mandate areas would be able to favourably compete with their counterparts from other parts of the country.

Another area of the Commission’s critical intervention is the employment of teachers in primary and secondary schools across the mandate areas with Mathematics, English Language, Sciences and ICT given special consideration. With the approval of the State Chief Executive, Erejuwa assured that more capable tutors, especially those from the mandate areas who are already familiar with the terrain and understood the challenges will be recruited to fill the needed gaps.

The President of the Association, Comr. Idowu Paul Ajayi who spoke on behalf of the Executive and entire students of Ese-Odo appreciated the Chairman for the warm reception, as well as his fatherly admonitions, assuring the Erejuwa led administration of the continual support and cooperation of the students body.

He further reeled out some of the key areas the Commission’s intervention is required to include: rehabilitation of schools and provision of furniture, completion of the FELGOS Secretariat, means of mobility, organising sports competition for students and youths across the mandate areas, sponsorship of FELGOS Day celebration and improvement on the bursary scheme.

Responding, Erejuwa commended the Union leaders for their maturity and comportment, assuring that under his watch, the interests of the students and youths of the mandate areas will never be mortgaged.

He informed that OSOPADEC will be part of the Sponsors of the next Nigeria Polytechnics Games (NIPOGA), to be hosted by Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo in January, 2023, to show the Commission’s concern in Students’ welfare, career and future.

Erejuwa had earlier on Tuesday 29th November played host to the National Executives of the National Association of Ilaje Students (NAIS), where he emphasized the Commission’s concern on physical infrastructure and human capital development, with the promise of equity and fairness to all sections of the mandate areas.