…Urges students to participate in nation building
AS the 2023 general elections draw closer, the Lagos State Government has taken its on-going residents sensitization programme on Permanent Voters Card (PVC) registration and collection to tertiary institutions across the state.
Among the schools visited by the state government include Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo and Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), Ijanikin, where the students were urged to join hands in building a new Nigeria.
According to the state government, the registration and collection of PVCs is a guaranteed license for participating in the nation’s electoral process.
Urging the students to go out and register for their PVCs or pick them up from the INEC office if they have registered before, the Special Adviser to governor Sanwo-Olu on Education, Tokunbo Wahab who led top government officials to LASU on Wednesday, stressed the need for more students’ participation in the electoral process and task of nation building.
According to him, since youths/students represent about 53.5 percent of the total population of the country, there is the need to carry them along and give them adequate orientation and enlightenment on leadership role and the need to participate in the electoral process towards choosing a God fearing leader that is committed to infrastructure development and good governance.
The sensitization programme which was at the instance of the Office of the Special Adviser on Education (OSAE) in conjunction with the Students Union Government (SUG) of both LASU and LASUED Ijanikin Campus had large turn-out of students who turned the sensitization programme into a carnival like across all Faculties and Departments of the Universities.
Wahab who commended the managements of the two institutions for maintaining absolute peace on their campuses, promised that the state government would not relent in implementing policies that would prioritise the welfare of both students and staff of all the state owned institutions.
He also commended them for not joining the on-going Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike in appreciation of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s sustainable educational development policies in the State.
The Special Adviser charged the students to take advantage of bringing registration centres to their campuses to register and collect their PVCs, noting that their PVC is the major weapon with which they can fight hunger and poverty while it could be used as well to sustain good governance.
In her remarks, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the LASUED, Professor Bidemi Bilikis Lafiaji-Okuneye stated that the sensitization initiative was is a welcome development as it would give the students the opportunity to perform their civic responsibility as citizens o the country.
Lafiaji-Okuneye also commended INEC for bringing registration centres to the two campuses, which she noted would help students to have easy access to registration.
Also speaking during sensitization events, the Special Adviser to Governor Sanwo-Olu on students Affairs and Tertiary Education Matters, Omotayo Sanyaolu said the sensitization programme is one of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration efforts at carrying the youths along in crucial matters that have direct effect on their developments.
Urging the students to make effective use of the exercise by registering and obtaining their PVCs, Sanyaolu reminded them that with their PVCs, they have been given the power to decide who should be their leaders.
He assured that the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) in Lagos State under Governor Sanwo-Olu would continue to place youths at the centre of its development programmes. He urged the students to continue to support the State government and keep campuses peaceful for improved and better development.
Commending his fellow students for coming out in large number to participate in the sensitization programme and by extension register for their PVC, LASU Students’ Union President, Adeoye Moses, a 400 Level student of Theatre Arts Department, stated that LASU students are always at alert when it comes to progressive development, adding that the SUG under his leadership would ensure that the students fully participate in all future elections in the country to bring about good government.
He also commended the State Government for upgrading infrastructures in the university and creating enabling environment for research developments, noting that LASU under Governor Sanwo-Olu has remained one of the best in the country in academic and moral excellences.
