By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Executive Director, Corporate Services of UAC Nigeria Plc, Mr Joe Dada, has urged well-meaning Nigerians to use their resources to empower youths in the country to have sound education.
Mr Dada said this at the closing ceremony of the annual Free Weekend Classes organised by the company for SS3 pupils in Lagos State.
According to him, more than 30 schools registered and participated in the scheme, which has been extended to the Government Senior College, Agege, for six weekends.
Mr Dada, who said that individual and corporate efforts would go a long way in arresting the deterioration of the sector, advised Nigerians “especially those with the right structures and institutions, to join the march towards lifting our country out of the mire of underdevelopment.”
He added that the UAC Goodness League initiative had run for nine years across education districts in the state.
“Since 2008, our company has been leading in the grand march to stem the tide of increasing deterioration of the educational infrastructure and programmes in our country.
“In realising the goals of this, UAC adopted both the hard and soft issues. While the hard issues focus on the provision of equipment and infrastructural development, the soft issues involve active engagement in the teaching and instruction of pupils through a Volunteer Scheme,” he said.
The Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Education District 1, Dr Olufolayimika Ayandele, commended UAC for the programme.
With a student population of 130,000 and workforce of 5,000, Dr Ayandele said the scheme had impacted 3000 pupils.
She also called on other organisations to partner the district so that the number of pupils who would benefit from such schemes would rise to 10,000.
Modupe Gbadeyanka