Obaseki made the disclosure, in a speech delivered on his behalf by the State Commissioner for Education, Hon. Christopher Adesotu, at Igbanke in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of the state during the donation of 4,500 branded exercise books to three schools in the area by Igbanke Unity Forum (IUF), a non-governmental organization (NGO).
He said though the shortage of school teachers was not peculiar to Igbanke, the state government has set the machinery in motion to address the matter.
Obaseki expressed his administration’s appreciation of partnership with NGOs, corporate bodies, and old students’ associations, adding that such collaboration helps in checking the challenges in the educational sector.
He reiterated his administration’s strong commitment to revamp basic education in the state, and lauded the philanthropic gesture of IUF members in giving back to their community.
Spokesman for the group, Edomaruse Collins said the forum has over 4,000 members spread across the world and its membership is open to indigenes of Igbanke only.
“IUF embarked on this project as a deliberate move to support your government’s bold steps so far taken to revamp the state’s basic education. No government, no matter how benevolent, can single-handedly provide all the educational needs of its citizens”.
He said members of the IUF are motivated to contribute their quota to the development of schools in Igbanke because they were uncomfortable with the state of some of the schools.
According to him, the books are for three schools in Igbanke, which include, Igbanke Grammar School; Igbanke Mixed Secondary School and Omolua Mixed Secondary School.
He appealed to the state government to fix the decrepit school buildings as well as address the shortage of teachers in the three schools as the ratio of teachers to students was not encouraging.
