International Day of Education: Stakeholders Harp On Need For Conducive Learning Environment

A cros section  of students at 2022 International Day of Education celebration organised In Lagos by Youth Orientation for Development in conjunction with the Coker Secondary Alumni Association on Thursday, January 24, 2022.

The fourth edition of the International Day of Education took place on January 24, 2022, all over the world with theme “Changing Course, Transforming Education.”

In Lagos State, the Youth Orientation for Development, YOD, (a UNESCO NGO) in collaboration with Coker Secondary School Alumni Association celebrated the day with a special event at Coker Secondary School, Lagos, to sensitize the students and other stakeholders on the importance of education and the need for government to provide required teaching and learning facilities.

Stakeholders who spoke at the event included the Hon. Commissioner for Education, Lagos State, Mrs Folashade Adefisayo, who was represented by Mrs Adebambo Mosunmola Rita, Director (Non-Governmental Organisation); Ambassador Emmanuel Ejiogu, President, YOD; President of the Alumni Association/first Head Boy of the school, Mr Canice Opara; Mrs Sanni Adepeju Idowu, Principal, Coker Senior Secondary School.

They called on the government, parents and other stakeholders to encourage young people to take education seriously.

According to the representative of the Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Adebambo, the theme of the programme  is a call for changing the course of poverty; changing the course of ignorance; changing the course of societal menace, changing the course of affliction and sickness, and of course, changing course of untimely death.

“Why we are here today is to pass across the message of the significance of education in the life of every citizen globally,” she added.

She said the Lagos State Government is doing everything within its powers to ensure that every child of school age in Lagos is in school during school hours.

“In various parts of the country, especially in the North, We have a lot of out of school children, but in Lagos State, the Lagos State Government is trying its best possible to make sure that this becomes a thing of the past by next year.

“It is in the agenda of Lagos State Government to ensure that children that are of school age are not seen on the roadside selling or hawking.  If children are not in school when they are supposed to be in school, this is the denial of their rights. It is your right for you to be educated. Lagos State is committed to the well-being and education of all Lagosians.

“Lagos State Government is working assiduously to make sure that schools across the state are provided with adequate teaching and learning facilities to make sure that the classrooms are conducive for effective teaching and learning. The process is ongoing and I’m very optimistic that it will be completed,” she stated.

The President, YOD, Ejiogu, the organizers of the event said  “This year’s International Day of Education  presents a platform to showcase the most important transformations that have to be nurtured to realize everyone’s fundamental right to education and build a more sustainable, inclusive and peaceful future.”

He said the programme will generate debate around how to strengthen education as a public endeavour and common good, how to steer the digital transformation, support teachers, safeguard the planet and unlock the potential in every person to contribute to the collective well-being of every citizen globally.

“Education is a human right, a public good and a public responsibility. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 24 January as International Day of Education in celebration of the role of education for peace and development. Without inclusive and equitable quality of education and lifelong opportunities for all, countries will not succeed in achieving gender equality and breaking the cycle of poverty that is leaving millions of children, youth and adults behind

“Today, 258 million children and youth still do not attend school; 617 million children and adolescents cannot read and do basic math; less than 40% of girls in Sub-Saharan Africa complete lower Secondary School and some four million children and youth refugees are out of school. Their right to education is being violated and it is unacceptable. This is why our organization is relentless in her effort to call the attention of the government and other corporate organizations to do something very urgently, to see that these identified needs in education is met, ” YOD President said.

He called on government, Corporate Organizations,, Institutions, philanthropists and good hearted individuals to support the Education system by donating/providing modern teaching and learning facilities and conducive environment that will make teaching and learning interesting.

Also speaking, Opara traced the history of the School, which he said was established in 1982.

He said the school has produced many professionals who are doing very well in their various professions, he mentioned Obafemi Martins, the former member of the Super Eagles of Nigeria as one of the old students of the school.

“We the old students of this school are proud to have passed through this school. I want to challenge you today, wherever you will be after your studies in this school, be proud of being an old student of Coker Secondary school and do everything possible to identify with the Alumni Association.

He also called on all the old students (the great Cokites) wherever they are, who are yet to identify with the association, to do so, “so that together we can sustain the momentum that makes Coker Secondary School thick.”

Earlier in her opening remarks, Idowu charged the students to see the event as an opportunity for them to learn new things that would better their lives and make them good citizens for their families, communities and the nation at large.

The occasion featured awards for best-performing students in both the Junior and senior category of the School as well as cultural dance display by the students.

Responding on behalf of the awardees, the Head Boy and Head Girl of the school, Adewunmi Israel and Muochukwuneke Ruth, thanked the school alumni association and the leadership of YOD for finding them worthy enough for the award and promised not to disappoint them.