Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says there is a strong link between the kind of education students receive in schools and what they will be later in life.
Osinbajo made the claim while speaking at a fundraiser for Igbobi College, his alma mater, on Saturday night in Lagos.
The Nigerian News Agency (NAN) reports that the 1 billion Naira fundraiser, organized by Igbobi College Older Boys Association (ICOBA)was part of the activities scheduled for the school’s 90th anniversary.
Mr. Osinbajo said that the values he had absorbed to date and some of the skills he had acquired were largely due to the impactful education he received at Igbobi College.
The Vice President said that what he and other former students got was a well-rounded education, which not only emphasized strong academic performance but also discipline.
He said the school rewarded academic achievement and excellence in sports, but severely penalized misbehavior.
“Igbobi placed a high value on academic, sports and literary achievements; then, you were called on stage to receive awards during the assembly, for which you were recognized.
“So if you excelled in sports, you were recognized, if you excelled in academics, you were recognized on the assembly ground.
“But in the same scenario, you would be seriously flogged for misbehavior. So reward and punishment were on the same stage,” she said.
Osinbajo, who passed out of school in 1975, described Igbobi College as a leveller, saying that all students, regardless of their background, were treated equally.
He said that the teachers at the school during his days were very helpful, adding that he was very encouraged by his English teacher in his first year to improve his writing skills.
The Vice President said that Igbobi College had transformed lives and contributed greatly to Nigeria’s human capital.
He praised the former students of the school for coming up with the idea of the fundraiser to generate funds to improve the school.
Mr. Osinbajo said that he had no doubt that the various interventions by Igbobi College alumni would help improve the level of teaching and learning in the school.
Earlier, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, praised the school’s alumni for their efforts to raise standards at the university.
Mr. Gbajabiamila, also a former student, said that the various interventions of the former students would not only improve the school but also have an impact on education.
The Spokesperson urged friends of the school and other Nigerians to help make it a center of academic excellence.
“We urge you all to join us not only to improve the school but also to promote education,” he said.
In his remarks, Muyiwa Kinoshi, president of ICOBA, said that the fundraiser was organized as part of efforts to improve the school’s infrastructure and improve teaching and learning.
He said that ICOBA was irrevocably committed to the progress of the school and would continue to do everything possible to improve teaching and learning.
Seni Adio (SAN), chairman of the fundraising committee, said the 1 billion naira would be spent on building a technology center, an electronic library, upgrading dormitories, among others, at the school.
“Besides brick and mortar, we will spend the money on other things that will have a positive impact on the level and performance at Igbobi College,” he said.
Mr. Adio said that previous interventions from former students were already paying off in the school with students doing very well on WAEC and other external exams.
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He called on former students and other lovers of education to continue supporting the school, founded by both the Anglican Church and the Methodist Church, to reach greater heights.
The show attracted many business tycoons and other eminent personalities.
Over N200 million N1billion have been made.
(YAYA)