Lagos State government is showing the way again in rewarding excellence in the educational sector. The government has rewarded students from various schools in the state for outstanding performance in external examinations and competitions. Quite instructive is the award of university scholarships to the best students in the 2020 West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE). In a country where things that are not as important as education are celebrated, the state government deserves commendation for the step taken to elevate educational pursuit to a position of honour.

In recent times, entertainment has been accorded priority over such sectors as education and health that can lift the country and her citizens. Education, in particular, contributes so much to the knowledge economy that has commanded attention in developed countries. This is only paid lip service to in Nigeria. It is the more commendable that the government is paying due attention to secondary education. Two students of Vetland Senior Grammar School, Agege, Favour Abiodun and Taiwo Solana, who out-performed their peers in the 2020 WASSCE by scoring distinction in all the subjects they entered for were awarded scholarship for university education. This, we hope, will encourage the students to bring out their best in the higher level.

It should also encourage other students, thus bringing out the spirit of competition that could only help promote excellence in the state and the country. It has always been explained that one reason why patriotism is lacking among the youth is because they cannot point to government contribution to their lives. It is instructive that the school that produced the best students is a public institution. It is an indication that the government could reap more if it invests much more in public education. Many are forced to send their children to private schools where they pay through the nose even when they do not earn commensurate returns. If the public schools are upgraded and parents see that excellence is not limited to the private schools, they will be encouraged to patronise the existing public facilities, thus freeing resources for other things and productive ventures.

At a point when little attention is paid to technical education in the country, it is good that the state also looked in the direction of a student of the State Technical College, Agidingbi, Oladipupo Abiodun, who was adjudged the Best Critical Thinker at the 2021 African Leadership Academy competition. He and Olamide Marvelous represented the state at the competition. In another category, Ebere Divine and Olajide Akorede of Vetland, as well as Seidu Samuel of Brainfield College who represented the state at a Physics competition organised by the National Institute of Physics and took the first position were also honoured. Samuel was also second at the Oluwole Awokoya Chemistry competition.

The step taken by the state government is consistent with its commitment to promoting excellence at the tertiary education level. At the 24th convocation of the Lagos State University, the best graduating student, Oladimeji Shotunde, who had the distinction of having a cumulative grade point average of 4.95 was given a cash prize of N5 million and a post-graduate scholarship up to doctorate level. We urge other state governments and the private sector to emulate the example. This would help the country assume a position of eminence in the comity of nations.

Update news