By Oluwatope Lawanson
The lawmaker representing Ifako-Ijaiye Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Adewale Adedeji, has reaffirmed his commitment to expanding access to quality education for children and youths in his constituency, irrespective of their financial status.
Adedeji made the pledge on Monday in Lagos during the screening for beneficiaries of his annual free General Certificate Examination (GCE) registration initiative.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two-day exercise, which began on Saturday, attracted hundreds of applicants from various parts of Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area.
The applicants are seeking to benefit from the 400 free GCE registration forms being provided under the Adewale Temitope Adedeji Educational Initiative (ATA-EI).
Adedeji said the initiative was designed to give indigent students opportunity to further their education and improve their chances in life.
“Education remains one of the most effective tools for reducing poverty and creating opportunities.
“Our vision is clear. We want Ifako-Ijaiye to become the most educated local government in Nigeria by 2037,” he said.
According to him, a total of 564 prospective beneficiaries are currently undergoing screening, after which successful candidates will emerge to benefit from the free GCE forms.
He explained that the screening process was necessary to ensure that only genuinely deserving candidates benefited from the programme.
The lawmaker reiterated that the initiative was part of his broader commitment to human capital development and youth empowerment in the constituency.
In a related development, Adedeji commended the Federal Government and the nation’s security agencies for the safe rescue of abducted students and teachers from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
He described the rescue as reassuring and urged security agencies to sustain their efforts toward safeguarding lives and property across the country.
Adedeji emphasised that improved security would further enhance access to education and create a conducive environment for learning nationwide. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa