Governor Ademola Adeleke today hosted the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu to a rousing welcome for the launching of Alternative High Schools for Girls, commending the First Lady’s years of dedicated public service.
Addressing the dignitaries at the turning of sod at Oke Dio, Ayepe, Osogbo, Governor Adeleke affirmed his happiness hosting “a woman of virtue, an Amazon who is a political pillar of our dear President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Your antecedents and your passion for public service are known to some of us. We have worked with you at close quarters and I can confirm that you are one of the best of sisterhood in the country.
“As your colleague in the Senate In those days, I can affirm your deep love for Nigeria, your commitment to national human development and your particular interest in the welfare of under-privilegded Nigerians. I am therefore not surprised when you assumed office and you unveiled several initiatives in support of girl children and the poor.
“In your passion for the growth of the nation, you are also known for focusing on fairness and justice. For us in Osun State, we are here today because we are a beneficiary of your sense of justice. During the raffle for the citing of this school you picked Osun, you did not shift the goal post. We commend you for granting Osun this rare opportunity of hosting this very important school”, the Governor noted.
While assuring the First Lady that his administration will follow up and provide needed support to ensure a robust operation upon completion of the school, Senator Adeleke assured that his administration is also committed to supporting girl child education.
“We have introduced a series of programmes which strengthen the capacity of families to provide basic needs. Hence, we emphasize workers’ welfare as a critical first line item in our five point agenda.
“We also focus on stopping the crisis of sexual violence against women. To that end, Osun is the first state to implement the resolution of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum on Action Against sexual violence. We have met the Ministry of Women Affairs and resolved to set up mobile courts to try domestic sexual violence matters. Additionally, we are compiling a list of unfairly jailed girls and women to get them released. This is in addition to an agenda of empowering the womenfolk through the Cooperative lawn scheme.
“Osun State is undergoing total transformation with women at the heart of our agenda. We assure you of our support for the Renewed Hope Agenda, especially our deep partnership to ensure the success of federal policies for a better Nigeria. We appreciate current policies of the Federal Government, and we are daily interfacing with federal agencies for successful outcomes”, the state Governor posited.
The First Lady of Nigeria in her address commended the warm reception accorded her by government and people of Osun state even as she narrated her decade long passion for special schools for young girls, restating her committment to ensure full implementation of the project across the country.
The First Lady who was full of praise for the First Lady of Osun State, Mrs Titilola Adeleke said the Alternative High Schools for Girls was her response to the yawning gap in girls education, decrying the high number of out of school children in the country.
Senator Tinubu who earlier met traditional rulers led by Ooni of Ife, HRM, Enitan Ogunwusi, said Osun is selected for the girls’ school and adopted with full expectation that the state government will expand the model and deepen girl child education in the state.
The Executive Secretary of Universal Basic Education, Dr Ahmed Bobboi in his speech hailed the contributions of the Adeleke administration to the growth and development of universal basic education in the state.
According to him, the administration’s records enhances the confidence of UBEC and the Office of the First Lady that the new school will realise its targets and even surpass it.
The First Lady was accompanied by eleven states’ first ladies, the wife of the Vice President, the wife of the Senate President, the wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Wife of the Chief of Staff to Mr President and other top women leaders from across the country.
Signed:
Mallam Olawale Rasheed,
Spokesperson to the State Governor
