Oyetola Assures Students of Attention to Grow Democracy, Good Governance

Governor of Osun, Gboyega Oyetola said his administration would continue to prioritise the interest of students and make them compete with their peers anywhere in the world.

He gave the assurance at the inauguration of the 2020 newly-elected executive of the National Association of the Osun State Students (NAOSS) in Osogbo on Wednesday.

Represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Adebayo Adeleke, the governor said his resolve to give student attention was based on the belief that they are future leaders and have roles in building democracy and good governance.

According to him, for democratic governance to thrive, students must get engaged in elements that grow it and be at the forefront of fighting against all devices that stall democracy and good governance.

He noted that his administration regards students as the strength of the state and has emplaced strategies to take care of their interests.

While hailing the Osun students for being part of the movement to grow democracy and governance, the governor stressed that more is expected from them to be able to project themselves in a manner that is in tandem with Omoluabi ethos.

He said: “For as long as democracy is about number and youths constitute over 60 per cent of the nation’s population, students deserve to be regularly groomed in democratic issues for sustainable governance and development.

“For democratic governance to thrive, students must get engaged in elements that grow it, including registering for election, voting at elections, encouraging others to do so, organising events that grow democracy, and be at the forefront of fighting against all devices that stall democracy and good governance.

“Therefore, our administration regards students as the strength of the state and we have emplaced strategies to take care of their interests. We are renovating school buildings, providing instructional materials and honing the capacity of teachers at all levels, while we are also supporting our tertiary institutions to ensure quality education for our students.

“We are regularly paying the salaries of teachers and releasing the allocations of our tertiary institutions to make them function properly.

“We believe that when we give our students the best education, they will reciprocate the gesture by providing the service and ideals we need to grow and nurture democracy and good governance.

“We are also building institutions, cutting costs, plugging wastage, eliminating corruption, training staff on the ideal of transparency and enthroning good governance”, the governor stressed.

The Chief Whip of the Osun Assembly, Honourable Tunde Olatunji said, while the government is making efforts to build the capacity of youths, youths must also be determined to make impact in building the nation.

Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Yemi Lawal assured that the government would collaborate with students and carry them along in decision making, with a view to guaranteeing the required development.

The Commissioner for Inter-Governmental Affairs, Taiwo Akeju and his counterpart for Women and Children Affairs, Olubukola Olaboopo tasked the student to remain focus, particular in their education and make impact in the development of the state and Nigeria in general.