Gov. Sanwo-Olu appoints four former Student Union Leaders as SSAs
…increase bursary, scholarship grants
By Adeola Ogunrinde
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday appointed four former leaders of the Student Union Government (SUG) in Lagos tertiary institutions as Senior Special Assistant (SSA).
The appointees are: Eniola Opeyemi, Kayode Samuel, Giwa Moor and Adeola Adewunmi.
He also increased the bursary allowance for students of Lagos origin to N60,000 and scholarship grant from N200, 000 to N225,000 for both indigene and non-indigenes of the state as well as the poor.
The governor announced the appointment on Tuesday at a One-day interactive session between the governor, students’ union leaders and stakeholders in the state held at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium Alausa with the theme “Students as Strategic Partners in the Governance Process: Challenges and Prospects for the Youth Development.”
Sanwo-Olu made the appointment following the request by the Lagos Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Lekan Alimi, demanding that there was a need for the student union to have representatives in government who would interface between the government and the students.
Sanwo-Olu told the students that they are ‘important stakeholders in the governance of Lagos State’. He urged them to believe in themselves, adding that the country expects so much from them.
“The country is about you and believes in you. You have to believe in yourselves too,” he admonished them.
The Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Tolani Sule, said the interactive session was a further demonstration of Sanwo-Olu’s administration’s commitment to quality tertiary education and youth development.”
He commended the management of Lagos owned universities and the students for avoiding any students unrest and industrial disharmony that could warrant strike or closure of any of the state owned institutions
The Commissioner also thanked the governor for making students and staff welfare a top priority of the state government as well as embarking on infrastructural development projects across campuses.
The Lead Speaker, former Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University, Professor Lanre Fagbohun, urged government to be sincere adding that ‘ where there is sincere governance, students are always supportive.’
Fagnohun further urged government to always make room for consultation with the students adding that students need constant thorough support.
He mentioned investments in infrastructure, provision of subsidised services such as transportation, health care and , internet service as some of the ways government can make students feel its impact.
He, however, urged the students to be ‘discipline and responsive leaders’ and stay away from drugs.
Lekan Alimi who is the Chairman of NANS, Lagos chapter, while speaking on behalf of the students said the union had gone beyond the era of protests and promised to work with the government.
