Investing in basic education key to raising future leaders — Bamidele

ADO-EKITI — Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has said sustained investment in basic education is critical to producing well-rounded citizens, professionals and responsible leaders for national development.

Bamidele spoke in Iyin-Ekiti during the inauguration of the renovated Government Science College, Iyin-Ekiti, which he renovated at a cost of over N200 million.

He said the intervention was aimed at creating an environment where children could acquire the knowledge, skills and character needed to become future leaders.

The renovation covered the boys’ hostel, administrative and classroom blocks, girls’ hostel, dining hall and kitchen. Bamidele also donated a new bus to the school and another to the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin-Ekiti (FUTESI).

According to him, the project went beyond physical structures, as it was designed to provide a solid foundation for children to become professionals and leaders across various sectors.

“Part of my own vision is for us to have a school system that will be able to produce people who are better and greater than us, all these children who are here.

“My hope and prayer is that this is the home of tomorrow’s engineers, medical doctors, physicists, pharmacists and, in the leadership sector, future governors, future senators, commissioners and other leaders,” he said.

The Senate Leader stressed that the foundation stage of education was critical to individual and national development, adding that societies seeking sustainable growth must prioritise quality education for children.

Bamidele said the intervention was also his way of appreciating the Ekiti State Government for allowing the permanent site of Government Science College to be used for the take-off of FUTESI.

He explained that although the university could not vacate the premises as initially planned due to circumstances, including heavy rainfall, he decided to improve the learning environment for the students.

He said he obtained the approval of the state government through the Ministry of Education to use a six-week window during the students’ vacation to execute the first phase of the renovation.

“I’m happy about the first phase of this renovation. This was all we could do within six weeks,” he said.

Bamidele disclosed plans for a second phase, which he said would focus on transforming the institution into a more specialised science-oriented school with modern laboratories, a library and other facilities.

“Our intention in the long run is for the school to be a training ground for the university students,” he said.

He added that additional classroom blocks would be considered, subject to the availability of land, to expand the school’s capacity for students seeking science-based education.

Bamidele also spoke on the road leading to the school, saying the state and federal governments were considering interventions to address the situation.

Former Ekiti State Governor, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, commended Bamidele’s interventions in the community and the state.

Adebayo recalled that the school was established during his tenure between 1999 and 2003, following the advice of the late educationist, Chief Olorunfemi Balogun, which led to the establishment of similar schools in the three senatorial districts.

Also speaking, the Ekiti State Commissioner for Education, Dr Adebimpe Aderiye, who represented Governor Biodun Oyebanji, commended Bamidele for his commitment to education development.

Aderiye described the intervention as significant to the education sector, noting that improved learning infrastructure was essential to quality education.

She assured that the state government would continue to support public schools and ensure that facilities provided through such interventions were properly maintained and utilised.