The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has urged the Federal Government to secure the release of the more than 200 schoolgirls abducted in Borno State.
Dabiri-Erewa made the call in Lagos at an award ceremony of the Education District 11 of the Lagos State Government.
She said education was the right of every girl-child, no matter her nationality.
The lawmaker said, “Every girl must be educated. We must encourage education for female children. It does not matter which part of the world you come from.
“Those girls must be brought be back. If we must negotiate, negotiate. It is a sad situation; but those girls must be brought back safely.’’
She also commended the Education District 11, comprising junior and senior secondary schools from Ikorodu, Kosofe and Somolu zones.
Thirty teachers from the zones received awards for their dedication and commitment to the profession.
Dabiri-Erewa added, “A teacher’s reward is no longer in heaven. We have to celebrate, encourage and honour you.’’
The Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, also commended the district for being one of the zones in the state with the best academic and extra-curricular programmes.
She said, “I cannot be a commissioner over blackboards. I appreciate you.
“I want you to assure me that we are getting 100 per cent in the examinations conducted by the West African Examinations Council this year and 110 per cent next year.”
She also urged the pupils to remain focused and take their studies seriously.
Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Eko Projects, Mrs. Ronke Azeez, has urged school principals to be patient, following the delay of the assessment of the World Bank grant for the state.
She noted, “You need to be patient. The state government is doing all it can on the matter. The World Bank has approved the first stage, but the next stage has to go through the Federal Executive Council.
“If there is anything you can do to keep the sanitation managers working, please do it. We do not want the schools to go back to being dirty. Once we are through with the Federal Executive Council, you are going to get the grant.”
