Buhari commissions mega school, urges states to emulate Osun education initiatives

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday described the newly completed Osogbo Government High school built by the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as an educational legacy that must be emulated by other states of the federation.

The President stated this while commissioning the state-of-the-art school to commemorate the 25th creation anniversary of the state in Osogbo.

Buhari noted that the ‎3,000-capacity complex with 72 classrooms, each capable of sitting 49 pupils, is in line and fulfilment with his administration and party’s education policy.

He held that his government has been doing all it could to assist state governments to realise their developmental plans irrespective of their political parties.

President Buhari said his government will cooperate with other state governments to make education cost effective and accessible to other youth in the country.

According to him, the example of the cost effectiveness will be exemplified by this new school, which is capable of graduating 1,000 students in a year.

He averred that if the school will have produced 50, 000 well-trained students, who will form the fulcrum of the society in the next 50 years.

“I have been here three times before now. I am not surprised by your usual generous welcome. I should also thank you for your support for our party, the All Progressive Congress, in the last presidential and general elections.

“Since last week, the celebration has been loud on the 25th creation anniversary of Osun. I rejoice with you and the people of Osun. Creation of state is for development. I am glad that efforts are in place in Osun to quicken the needed development.

“Our government has been helping states to realise their developmental plans irrespective of political parties. We are here to commission Osogbo Government High School, one of the legacy projects of Rauf Aregbesola.

“The facility here is worthy of emulation by other states. What we are witnessing here is a fulfilment of our government policy on education.

“The economy of scales in this edifice is unquantifiable and so we must seize the opportunities the school has in stock.

“During our campaigns, we promised our people positive and progressive change. But history has taught us that change does not come as easy as that. Change will come after much hard work, patience and perseverance. We promise that we shall do everything for our country and our people and this won’t be long in coming,” President Buhari said.

Speaking earlier, the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola commended President Buhari for his leadership qualities, saying that Buhari since his assumption of office has not disappointed the many patriots.

He also lauded the President for facing his job with uncommon courage despite the obvious grim challenges, one of which is declining revenue.

Aregbesola attributed the challenge being faced by the President to the progressive decline in oil receipts to less than 20 per cent of what it was shortly before he came to office.

He noted that the shortfall in oil has affected the Federal Government and put not less than 28 states under severe financial strain, adding that if not for the courage of the President and his team, the country could have gone totally bankrupt.

‎Governor Aregbesola noted that the commissioning of the school is the manifestation of both governments’ commitment to educational development, which is also derived from APC’s ideology and manifesto of providing mass education to the people.

He said, “Education for us, therefore, is the path to development. We are 25 years now, but we are looking at the next 25 years and we want to create and determine the next 25 years through education.

‎”We are producing the new man. The overall aim is to develop the new man intellectually, socially and morally. This new man is placed in the centre of society who views his own development as part of and for the development of society.

‎”This is a non-parasitic and non-oppressive man who views his existence in light of the growth of others; he views whatever is acquired to be subsumed in the overall interest of others. He is a man in himself and a man for society.”‎

‎Dignitaries at the event were: the Governor’s of Borno Oyo and Lagos States Kazeem Shettima, Isiaka Ajimobi and Akinwunmi Ambode respectively; former Governor of the state, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, and former Deputy Governor of Ogun, Segun Adesegun.

Wife of the Osun Governor, Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola, Deputy Governor of Osun, Mrs Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori were there.

Others included former Chief of Army Staff, General Alani Akinrinade (rtd) and Air Vice Marshal Oluseyi Petirin (rtd); Speaker of Lagos State, Rt. Hon Mudasir Obasa; Senator Babajide Omoworare (Osun West); Senator Prof. Sola Adeyeye (Osun Central).

Royal fathers at the occasion were Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; Ataoja of Osogbo, Jimoh Olanipekun; Akinrun of Ikirun, Oba Abdurauf Adedeji; Oluwo of Iwo, Oba AbdulRasheed Adewale Akanbi among others.