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Fashola Charges Nigerian Leaders To Invest In Education

Oct 22, 2009 - Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Thursday asserted that one of the most enduring legacies that any leader can build is the investment in a dynamic and resourceful people through education.

According to Governor Fashola who spoke while receiving the members of the winning 36 Lion football Academy and the Co-ordinators of the 1 Goal Education For All at the Lagos House, Ikeja added education is the most enduring legacy that will not perish.

He explained that by winning the trophy back to back between 2008 and 2009, the 36 Lion Academy, team has shown the true spirit of ability and competitiveness and that he is very proud of the team.

Governor Fashola added that very soon he will be hosting the second edition of the BRF Corporate Challenge where members of the victorious team will have the opportunity of playing the beautiful competitive game of soccer with him.

He described this period as a time of so many co-incidences for Africa as three major World championships are taking place with the FIFA senior World Cup billed to commence in South Africa next year, U-21 which has just been won by Ghana in Egypt and the U-17 which starts in Lagos and selected cities in 24 hours time.

The Governor added that it is another co-incidence that two of the FIFA World Cup trophies were in Nigeria as at the time the FIFA World Cup was being unveiled in Lagos on Wednesday night.

Governor Fashola explained that as the country prepares for the commencement of the U-17 World Cup, one of the desired benefits will be the attainment of one of the goals of the Millennium Development Goals (MGDs) which is the provision of basic education for all.

Speaking earlier while presenting the members of the 36 Lion Soccer Academy and the trophy to the Governor, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Grassroots Sports, Prince Wale Oladunjoye and Co-ordinator of the trip said the academy participated in two group matches in Illinois at the Chicago International Cup in the United States.

He added that eight clubs participated in the competition, with Nigeria producing the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the person of Sadiq Saliu.

Mr Oladunjoye said to show appreciation by the team to the Governor for his sponsorship of the event, the victorious team is dedicating the trophies to Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN).

The Co-ordinator of the 1 Goal Education For All campaign, Mr Martin Davies in his presentation said the group intends to ensure that all uneducated children all over the world are educated before the end of the FIFA Senior World Cup in South Africa in 2010.

He said what the group expects from everybody both in their private and official capacity is to support the initiative by offering their signature and signing to endorse the campaign.

Mr Davies added that the group has also enlisted the support of ace footballer and a well known name in Nigerian football, Mr Segun Odegbami as an ambassador for the 1 Goal Education For All campaign.

In his solidarity message, Mr Segun Odegbami said he is a product of education and sports who also believes that sports can act as a vehicle to drive sound education of the young ones.

He explained that he believes that 10 percent of young people who require sound education are in Nigeria and that he convinced the co-ordinator of the programme, Martin Davies to start the campaign in Lagos State which has a multi talented sportsman as the Governor.

Mr Davies buttressed his remarks with visual presentations on notables and sportsmen like US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, South African President, Jacob Zuma, Ghanaian President, Kanu Nwakwo and John Utaka who have already endorsed the 1 Goal Education For All campaign.

Governor Fashola later endorsed the 1 Goal Education For All by signing his name on the provided blackboard and urged everyone to sign on the programme in order to score the biggest goal which is educating all young ones in Africa before the end of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The event was witnessed by some members of the State Executive Council like Commissioner for Youth Sports and Social Development, Prince Ademola Adeniji Adele, Home Affairs and Culture, Alhaji Tunde Balogun and Special Adviser on Rural Development, Mr Paul Kalejaiye.