Press Releases

“Review Our Education Curriculum”, Fashola Tells FG
• Praises Mrs. Tinubu as New Era Foundation (NEF) celebrates tenth anniversary

Mar 21, 2010 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, at the weekend advocated a total review of the nation’s Education curriculum, saying Nigerian Universities are producing graduates in the areas of human endeavour that the country does not have need for.

Governor Fashola, who spoke at the 10th Anniversary Dinner of the New Era Foundation (NEF), lamented that while the nation is in dire need of electrical and petroleum engineers to solve our energy needs as well as extract our mineral resources, Nigerian universities are producing graduates in areas that cannot solve these needs.

“Today, our nation stands challenged to review the entire curriculum of our Education”, the Governor said adding “We need to generate electricity; we need to extract our petroleum; Nollywood is developing; we have transportation problem. How many Nigerian Universities are offering Transportation courses, how many of our universities are offering Cinematography, or courses on Electricity and power generation that we need? These are the areas we should be really concerned in”.

Governor Fashola praised the initiative of the President of NEF and Immediate past First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu for the impact she has made in the society especially by the Spelling Bee Competition which produces the One-day Governor for the State every year.

He declared, “The New Era Foundation, through her President, members of the Governing Council and Board have done many things. They have built minds; they have developed young people; they have given us the best of their time and resources and in this 10th Anniversary which coincides with the maturing of our democracy, I think one of the very proud products of our democratic governance is not just the New Era Foundation but all of the children they have touched”.

According to the Governor, “If you are looking for the evidence as to whether democratic governance is good or not, I think these children are the evidence that you need that our democracy must continue to thrive”, adding, “Our democracy must be meaningful in the sense that it changes lives in a way that the lives of these children have changed”.

Quoting a letter written by the first One-day Governor of the State, Master Chukwuebuka Anunobi in the Newsletter – A DECADE OF SERVICE, 2000 – 2010 -, launched at the ceremony, which read “Never tell me the sky is the limit when there are footprints on the road”, the Governor declared, “These are the type of leaders that have evolved and the One-Day Governor is not the only story”.

Commending Mrs. Tinubu for her continued efforts to impact positively in society even out of office, Governor Fashola declared, “She continues to re-enforce my belief that you do not need a title to serve. Out of office, she continues to pursue her project to change lives. What you need to serve is grace and Mrs. Tinubu has it”.

In his remarks, the immediate past Governor of the State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said the New Era Foundation was a dream which he shared with his wife at the basement of their home while in exile adding that he did not believe then that it would come to fruition.

Turning to his wife, Asiwaju said, “You believed in the dream, you believed in yourself”, adding that the NEF President combined the duty of chef, cook and steward to him and all other members of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) during their four years in exile during the struggle for Nigeria’s democracy.

The Guest Speaker, Mrs. Amina Oyegbola commended the NEF and all other organizations which are operating in the country saying they are essential for the development of Nigerian children who, she described as the future of the nation.

“These organizations tackle the problems head on by expanding the skills and job opportunities of young Nigerians”, she said noting with appreciation all the projects which the Foundation has accomplished in the last 10 years.

Reviewer of the Newsletter, the incumbent First Lady, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, described it as a must for everyone who has the heart to give something back to the less privileged and physically challenged ones in the society.

Earlier in her welcome address, the NEF President said the Foundation, through its various programmes, especially the Spelling Bee Competition, has touched the lives of many young people, adding that it has promoted the culture of healthy competition among children in public schools.

“Motivated both by financial reward and the opportunity to serve as One-Day Governor of the State, our public school children put in their very best to emerge tops in the competition. Their self-confidence and self-esteem received a tremendous boost” the NEF President said adding that all the past One-Day Governors are doing very well in their various endeavours.

Urging well-to-do Nigerians and others to contribute to the Foundation, Mrs. Tinubu said the Foundation has also given encouragement to the physically challenged through the National Wheel Chair Tennis Competition for the physically challenged and the Maggi Cooking Competition, adding that other competitions like the Essay Competition for Children has come in handy for the development of young minds.

Also present at the colourful and well attended occasion were the Deputy Governor, Princess Adebisi Sarah Sosan, the National Chairman of Action Congress , Chief Bisi Akande, Chief Judge of Lagos State, Mrs. Inumidun Akande, Chief Akintola Williams, Engineer Rauf Aregbesola, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, members of the State Executive Council, members of the National and State Assemblies, Captains of Industries, traditional rulers and top government functionaries.