Lagos academics celebrate Sanwo-Olu on STEAM mentorship initiative

Students and teachers in Lagos State celebrate Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the state governor, for his educational policy, especially the special Eko STEAM mentorship initiative.

The academics expressed their gratitude to the governor for the innovative educational initiatives during his 60th birthday celebration on Wednesday, June 25, in Lagos.

Kolawole Ayeni, principal of Lagos State Model College, Kankon, Badagry, commended Sanwo-Olu for creating a conducive environment for learning.

Ayeni said the students and teachers were happy that the college was selected as the venue for the special edition of the series in commemoration of the 60th birthday of the governor.

“Today is not just a celebration of leadership and service, but also an opportunity to reflect excellence in education and youth development,” he said.

Nancy Idige, a student of the college, in her speech appealed to the governor to provide a school bus for the college to facilitate their movement in and out of the college, especially for academic operations.

She encouraged Sanwo-Olu to ensure the rehabilitation of some of the dilapidated structures in the school.

Idige congratulated the governor on his 60th birthday anniversary, praying that God would always protect him and his family.

The Lagos State government on Wednesday announced the addition of arts as an extracurricular activity in the Eko STEAM mentorship series to ensure no child is left behind in the state’s educational policy.

Eniola Opeyemi, the senior special assistant to the Lagos State governor on basic and secondary education, disclosed this during the Innovative Eko STEAM mentorship series in Lagos State Model College, Kankon, Badagry.

The initiative, which is in line with the drive of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education under the leadership of Jamiu Alli-Balogun, the commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, and Abisola Dokunmu-Adegbite, the permanent secretary, was aimed at fostering interest and skill development in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) among secondary school students.

The initiative, which was launched on November 8, 202,4 to provide mentorship and resources to empower students with practice,al future-ready skills

The series also emphasises promoting self-employment and contributing to the state’s transformation into an innovation-driven economy.

Opeyemi said this was to complement the policy of Sanwo-Olu’s policy of ensuring every child was involved in the state.

“This is to ensure no child is left behind. The aim is to explore the ability of some students who are good in areas other apart from science. As you are aware, a student of Lagos State recently won the Milo World Championship competition, and also some students are doing well in other areas.

“We are inaugurating Lagos State secondary school sports festival to bring all students together to showcase their talents and mentor them, groom them for the future. Very soon we are also considering including other curricular activities where all students are able to perform excellently, both in public and private schools. Lagos is taking a step forward not only in education but also to make sure the students enjoy themselves while studying,” he said.

Mobolaji Ogunlende, commissioner for youth and social development, said Sanwo-Olu was impressed with the activities of both students and staff of the college.

Ogunlende said he was not surprised to see cups and different awards won by the college.

He said, This is a testament to the great work that the school is doing, as he emphasised that Sanwo-Olu had introduced many initiatives to ensure youth are not left behind in his administration.

Besides, the commissioner assured the students that their challenges in the school would be tabled before the governor, adding that necessary steps would be taken to alleviate them.

Ogunlende explained that he was in the college also to celebrate the birthday of the governor with the students of the college.

Femi Ayeola, Education Officer in District Five, who represented Hassan Daodu, the tutor-general and permanent secretary of District Five, said the policy of the present administration would ensure that students are self-reliant after graduation.

Ayeola said the education policy in the state would ensure skills acquisition and foster different kinds of interests that Youths may have in mind.

He urged students in the state to get into the policy so that they can stand on their own and even employ others after graduation.