Jonathan honoured at place of primary assignment, 31years after NYSC

President Goodluck Jonathan has reiterated the commitment of his administration to institutionalizing framework that will ensure availability of qualitative education in different levels in the country, just as he called for more involvement of old students in provision of amenities to make teaching and learning conducive in schools.
Jonathan said this at the grand finale of the 40th anniversary celebration and N100 Million School Endowment Fund Raising Ceremony of Ebekun Secondary Commercial Grammar School, Iresi, Osun State, the school where he observed his one-year mandatory National Youth Service Corps Scheme 31 years ago.
Jonathan, in a letter he personally signed, which was read by Engineer Jide Adeniji, the chairman of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, who represented him at the event, praised the courage of old students of the school for remembering their alma mater and collaborating with government to improve amenities available for teaching and learning.
Jonathan stated that he used to remember with nostalgia the period he worked with the school, stating that Iresi would always be his second home after Otu Oke, his home town in Bayelsa State and thanked the host community of the school for their hospitality towards him during his service year.
He then called on the students to be committed to their studies and properly leverage on the sincerity of purpose of his administration to improve standard of education in the country, being a key component in his transformation agenda.
Earlier in his opening address, the National President of Ebekun Secondary Commercial Grammar School Old Students Association, Alhaji Ibrahim Moronfolu, said since 1997 when nine old students of the school came together to form the association, its membership has continued to grow.
While enumerating some of the achievements of the old students association of the school, Moronfolu said leaking roof of two classrooms were repaired and books worth N100,000, covering core subjects, were donated to the school.
He added that a computer set with printer and generating set were also donated for the use of students by the association.
According to him, the responsibility of repositioning the school has gone beyond what old students alone could cope with, making it pertinent to get other stakeholders and friends of the school involved in the task.
Besides facing the challenge of shortage of teachers, Moronfolu added that just six qualified teachers are available in the school, while population of students is put at 200.
He also said that money realized through the endowment fund would be used to provide scholarship for brilliant but indigent students of the school.
While speaking to journalists at the event, Adeniji called for more collaboration between old students and government to reposition education in the country.
He said the priority attention being given to education by Jonathan administration will be further enhanced with cooperation of all shake holders.
Apart from Jonathan, who was honoured as grand patron, other awardees at the event included the Onikogusi of Ikogusi, Oba Elijah Olorunishola; the pioneer principal of the school, late Oyinlola Aderibigbe; and Chief Timothy Ibitoye, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commissioner, Kwara State.