By Oriola Afolabi
Parents have been advised to prioritize education of their children in order to build a meaningful and economic viable society.
A community leader, Mrs. Bolanle Rebecca Fashikun gave the advice at a Debate and Quiz Competitions organized among Five secondary Schools in Ifaki Ekiti to mark her fiftieth birthday.
Mrs Fashikun who is a native of Ifaki said education of children especially the girl child should not be handled will levity.
She remarked that parents needed to build a strong character in their children through education, home training, proper monitoring and mentoring.
The Birthday Celebrant observed that any country that failed to invest in quality education would always build a society full of criminal elements and called on government at all levels to invest more on education and promote academic excellence through results oriented curriculum.
The Chairman on the occasion who is also a Former Minister of Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalung Represented by Mr. Stephen Adewale counselled youths especially the girl child to be serious with their education in order to be the solution to the current challenges facing the country.
In his own submission, a Former Ondo State Deputy Governor, Mr Agboola Ajayi emphasised that education is key to myriad of challenges facing Nigeria and urged Leaders not to relent in efforts at making the country great through proper investment in the sector.
Represented by the Ondo State Former Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Ajayi described the birthday Celebrant, Mrs Bolanle Rebecca Fashikun as a woman who had passion for education with a call on well meaning Nigerians to emulate her.
Coordinator of the Birthday Programme, Mr. Collins Ajibola said the debate and Quiz Competitions were organized to mark the fiftieth birthday of Mrs. Fashikun out of passion to impact meaningfully on the upcoming generation instead of spending million on dining and winning with people in the name of birthday celebration.
Mr. Ajibola promised to pay the WAEC and NECO fees of thirty brilliant students, selected from both private and public schools in Ifaki Ekiti.
Some of the students who benefited from the Scholarship awards including Esther Ilori, Abiodun Daniel, Jeje Blessing and Adesola Joseph said that the gesture came at a right time and prayed God to bless the new age of Mrs. Fashikun.
The fiftieth birthday of Mrs. Bolanle Rebecca Fashikun featured presentation of gifts to all the schools that participated in the competition for their outstanding performance, with Methodist High School emerging as the winner in school debate and came second in quiz competition, Adladoph High School won the second position in both debate and quiz Competitions, Success School also emerged third in both competitions while all students who graced the occasion went home with five exercise books each.
