A member of the seventh House of Representatives and governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) Honourable Bimbo
Daramola, on Friday declared to Empower 885 youths among less privileged candidates, towards ensuring their success in the examination across the 177 wards in Ekiti State by distributing free Unified Tertiary Education (UTME/JAMB) forms with subsequent scholarship support to indigent students .
Also, JAMB past questions and answers in the last 21 years will be distributed for free to the candidates to enhance their adequate preparation towards excellence.
The step, according to the APC chieftain, was to relaunch Ekiti to an enviable height in the education ladder among the 36 states in the
country and to restore the old glory when the state occupies the first position in education among other ethnic groups.
Speaking while unveiling the Initiative themed ; “Teaching How to Fish” in Ado Ekiti, Daramola said the programme will help the students from poor homes to get admission into higher institutions for the 2017/2018 academic session.
He pointed out that it is expedient for youths to get higher certificates, especially the candidates who desire to write the exam but are not financially qualified to be competitive under the 21st century knowledge driven economy, describing the new initiative as a veritable avenue to open the vista of opportunities for Ekiti youths to be relevant in Nigeria.
The former lawmaker regretted that the dreams for greatness by many supposed Ekiti’s bright stars had been shattered by poverty, with many of them taking into peasant farming and commercial motorcyclist’s riding as
means of livelihood.
The APC chieftain disclosed that the programme will be carefully executed across the 133 towns in the state, to forestall
marginalization and inject the principles of equity, justice and fair play into the policy.
“The free education initiated by the late Sage and former Premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo in 1955 benefited Ekiti in no small measures. Those who had resigned to consistent farming embraced the policy and many later became great academics.
“But such time, when Ekiti is being perceived as the best in education is gradually fading and no effort should be spared to reignite the
flame for education among our youths. Ekiti cannot afford to lay back in education because that was the only flourishing industry we are renowned for.
“It is very glaring that the present PDP-led government in Ekiti has degraded and debased education by promoting tokenism and poverty-compliant scheme called stomach infrastructure. Little wonder, many of our graduates and young school leavers now prefer Okada riding than to seek admission for higher learning.
“But time has come for all hands to be on the deck to rescue our youths. Ekiti is rich in human resources and this spirit must not be allowed to diminish”, he reiterated.
