Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan Female Hostel Complex

0

The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, on Friday, challenged parents on adequate concern for the welfare and education of their children.

She made the remark during the foundation laying ceremony of a 15-storey female hostel complex at the University of Lagos, an initiative of the Parents Forum of the university.

The hostel is named Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan Female Hostel Complex.

According to the first lady, education is key to human capacity development and the foundation of national development.

She said that the quality of education put in place determined the quality of leaders produced by any nation.

She added that “we must all do our best as parents to give our children the best education and welfare they deserve.

“Education remains the greatest legacy we can give our children for their future and that of our nation.

“So, as a ?nation, we must do our best to join hands with the current administration?s transformation agenda in its drive to equip our children with the right kind of education needed to produce the kind of leaders that will take this country to greater height.?

Jonathan said the education of the girl-child was another key area in the development of the nation, stressing that “we must show interest in issues that border on girl-child education, especially when it comes to issues of accommodation and security.

“It is often said that when you educate a male-child, you educate an individual but when you educate a girl child, you educate an entire generation.

“However, education cannot be said to be complete without adequate hostel facilities that will ensure that the students are protected from the security challenges out there.”

The first lady said she was aware of the issues of accommodation that bedevilled the 50-year-old institution over the years “and the attendant issues of insecurity on the students, especially the female students living outside the campus.

“I am indeed not surprised that while parents seek for admission for their children, they are also seeking for accommodation for them.

“I am honoured to be invited to this ceremony and to see the project named after me.

“This marks another milestone in the development of education in the country and I want to assure you of my support in ensuring that this project is completed when it should.

“It will also give me joy to be here to watch the students pack into the gigantic edifice when completed; I must salute the efforts of the initiators of this project for taking this bold and positive step.”

Jonathan, however, urged the students to make good use of the opportunity provided by parents and management of the university by working hard.

She urged the lecturers to also put in their best and strive to be role models in order to bring back the respect accorded to teachers and the teaching profession in the time past.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Rahamon Bello, lauded Jonathan for honouring the invitation and for accepting that the project be named after her.

Bello said the gesture was in recognition of the passion and commitment the first lady attached to the development of youths and education.

“This also shows that the transformation agenda of Mr President, especially in the education sector, has already started yielding fruits.

“Hostel facilities are essential components of any institution because it creates a platform for bonding and healthy competition and mutual cooperation among students,? he said.

He gave the assurance that the management of the university would ensure the maintenance of the facility.

The Chairman, Parents Forum of the university, Mr Babatunde Majekodunmi, said the initiative was geared toward cushioning the effect of the perennial accommodation challenge in the institution.

View the original article here

Send your news stories to [email protected] Follow News Ghana on Google News

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here