From DELE OGUNYEMI, Ibadan
The Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, the Chairman TY Foundation Nigeria, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), the Chairman, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Founder, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Otunba Subomi Balogun, an Ibadan based industrialist, Chief Kola Daisi and Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa are among scores of personalities expected at the launch of Oyo State Education Trust Fund (ETF) to be hosted by Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Tuesday.
The Chairman of Oyo State ETF, Chief (Dr) Nike Akande disclosed this on Sunday in Ibadan, adding that the Founder and Chairman, Honeywell Group, Oba Otudeko, Chairman, Forte Oil, Mr. Femi Otedola, Publisher Guardian Newspaper, Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru and Chairman, HEIR Holdings, Mr. Tony Elumelu are among the guests to be joined by traditional rulers, educationists, philanthropists, Captains of industries as well as corporate organisations to lend their support to improve the standard of education at all levels in the state.
Chief Akande, a two time Minister, noted that the success being recorded by the School Governing Boards (SGB) and Oyo State Model Education System Interventions (OYOMESI) will be complemented by the EFT through collective financing of educational activities in the state, stressing, “funds raised by ETF will be rolled back to different areas of educational needs and activities in schools across all levels in the state. Some of these include construction and renovation of physical facilities.
“The funds will also be used to provide Information and Communication Technology, Standard Science Equipment, Teaching and Learning Materials, Students and Teachers’ set of furniture, sporting equipment, capacity building for teachers and students among others,” Chief Akande said.
She further stated that the event, which will hold at International Conference Centre (ICC) University of Ibadan by 10am, will also have members of Ibadan Elders Forum in attendance, promising that the funds realized will be judiciously and prudently managed by ETF board.
Chief Akande said, “we are hopeful and we believe that we will receive necessary support that will encourage our drive to improve the standard of education in the state. We thank our various SGBs, Old students Associations and Philanthropists for their support towards reviving the standard of education in the state. Their efforts are already yielding results but we need extra hands to get to the level we are targeting.
“Oyo State is seen as the cradle of education in Nigeria and we want to justify that accolade with improved results, basic infrastructure and manpower development among others. We are being motivated by the interest shown by our guests for the ETF. Some individuals are already contributing their quota and we call on all other well-meaning Nigerians to support the Oyo State ETF,” Chief Akande pointed out.