Ambode Invests In Education To Fight Poverty

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, on Tuesday justified the massive investment of his administration on improvement of educational infrastructure and upgrade of curriculum to meet current realities, saying that education remains one of the critical tools to combat poverty and secure a better future for the State.

Governor Ambode, who spoke at Lagos House in Ikeja after swearing-in a new Permanent Secretary and Tutor General for Education District Six, Mrs Olabisi Olufunmilayo Onadipe, said the massive investment on education architecture and continues empowering and equipping of teachers were all in a bid to raise the next generation of Lagosians who will be ready to take on the challenges of the future.

While alluding to the fact that the state government placed high emphasis on education, Mr Ambode charged the new appointee to see her appointment as very critical to the future progress of the State, and as such, she must add value not only to the present administration and the public service, but the State.

He said the public service, as a vital institution primarily responsible for policy implementation, has been given a pride of place, and recalled that since inception of the present administration, a lot of attention had been given to appointment of only officers with credible record of performance into leadership positions.

He said no matter how good a policy is, its effectiveness in terms of achieving the desired impact would only be determined by the competence and commitment of those charged with the responsibility of implementation, a development the Governor said called for the need for greater sense of dedication.

According to him, “A lot of attention is given to ensuring that only officers with credible record of performance are appointed into leadership position in the public service. The global rating of Lagos State requires that only the best hands must be engaged to drive the key sectors of the State economy. This is the only way we can guaranty effective and efficient service delivery and synergy between the public and the private sector.

“I therefore use this opportunity to demand greater sense of commitment and responsibility from the leadership and the entire workforce in the State public service. You must be open minded and ready to embrace new and innovative ideas that are consistent with global practices.”

Responding, the new Permanent Secretary thanked Governor Ambode for the confidence reposed in her, and expressed her readiness to discharge her duties effectively and efficiently.