The Lagos State Government has said that it budgeted a total of N1.4 billion for scholarships in the 2013 budget to assist students of Lagos State origin in the various institutions of higher learning.
Governor Babatunde Fashola made the revelation while delivering a lecture on the “The Future of Our Nation in the hands of the Nigerian Youth”, at the Lagos State University (LASU) in Ojo, Lagos. Fashola said the amount is higher than N800 million which was appropriated for scholarship in 2012, adding that the state took the decision in order to increase the number of beneficiaries.
He advised people to also seek information about what is happening in distant locations when viewing the decision of the Lagos State Government on increment in fees in Lagos State University adding that in the United Kingdom it costs over 5000 pounds to train a lawyer while in the United States, a student can only get a loan to pursue his education which is payable and not a bursary award.
According to the Governor, things have started looking up for the institution since the new fees and the close attention being paid to the capacity and infrastructural development of the school as 20 out of 21 disaccredited courses in the University have been re-accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC) while the Lagos State University is also now ranked 11th best University in Nigeria and the only state university in that category.
He gave a commitment that he would ensure that he does his best till 2015 to help the youth prepare to deal with the future in a better way.
In his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor, Professor John Obafunwa tasked the students on right comportment and behaviour at all times stressing that as potential leaders, it counts a lot.
He said the students should count themselves lucky to have somebody like Fashola in the saddle, adding they should not fail to recognise his numerous strides to improve their lot and that of others in the education sector. A 50th birthday cake was also presented to the governor at the event which attracted dignitaries like Provost of the Lagos State University College of Medicine(LASUCOM), Professor Odusanya Olumuyiwa, Deputy Provost, Professor Sobande Abimbola and President of the Lagos State University Students Union, Mr Ibrahim Olatunji Agbomeji and students from the medical school.
