The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has lauded Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration effort in providing functional education, describing the model schools being constructed across the state as the best in the South-West.
National Vice Chairman of the NUJ, Zone B, Mr Cosmas Oni and other delegates from the zone who were in Osun for the union’s zonal meeting at the weekend stated this during a tour on Aregbesola’s projects in Osogbo, to have first hand information on the performance of the current administration.
According to Oni, no other state in the South-West has similar school like the Osun model schools, declaring that Aregbesola’s administration has built a long-lasting legacy in the education sector.
Oni said: “I am overwhelmed with what we have seen because the impression we had about the government of the state is different from the reality – what we are seeing on ground. We thought there is no any feasible project on ground, but we can now see that Osun is moving.
“Without mincing any word, in this South-West, I have never seen any type of model school that cover the three stages of elementary, middle and high school. I give kudos to Aregbesola for the edifice and for putting on ground solid foundation for our children. If you invest on the children, you are eradicating poverty.
“At the Osogbo High School, we could see the kind of international standard the students fall to, which in don’t think any state in the South-West has ever met. I want to recommend other state in the South-West to emulate the Osun on the education and infrastructure development.”
Oni charged the people to imbibe the culture of good maintenance and ensure that the projects on ground last long in good condition.
Echoing similar view, Dr Qazim Akinreti, the NUJ Chairman, Lagos State, stated that the infrastructure projects being put in place by Aregbesola would outlive generations, maintaining that the governor has performed credibly well.
Akinreti said: “The projects we have seen are gigantic. This legacy should endure, if this legacy is not endured, definitely we will back to square one. It is a clarion call on whoever takes over from Aregbesola to ensure that this pace of development continues and surpassed the governor’s performance.”
The Chairman, Osun NUJ Council, Mr Abiodun Olalere said: Aregbesola’s track records in the last seven years and uncommon display of exemplary leadership qualities which reflect in “The New Face of Osun” and apparent display of love and affection to the people of the state in particular have endeared him to the young and the old. No doubt, Aregbesola is leaving an enduring legacy!
“The unprecedented number of Flyovers and quality of road network that the trail blazer Aregbesola has constructed, state of the art and well-equipped Modern Schools with free lunch being given to pupils in elementary school and un-quantified efforts to make Osun self-sustaining and industrial hub are part of the reasons why Ogbeni Aregbesola earned the award.”
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy in the state, Mr Adelani Baderinwa who led the NUJ delegates for the tour, described Aregbesola as a trail blazer and an actualiser, noting that Osun has moved from being a rustic to a beautiful state.
Baderinwa informed the NUJ delegates that as Aregbesola is performing well in infrastructure, so is he doing excellently in socio-security programs, disclosing that about 25, 000 traders, small scales enterprise and business owners have benefitted from the N3.6bn fund provided by the government.
He called on the journalist to continue supporting Aregbesola’s administration by reporting and publicizing his projects in their various medium.
Packaged by Rahman Salami
