The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Wasiu Lam-Adesina, has emphasised the need to improve the quality of education in public schools.

Mr Lam-Adesina, an associate professor of economic development planning, stated this at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council Guest Forum in Ibadan on Wednesday.

The APC aspirant alleged that the present-day quality of education in the state has deteriorated due to neglect and inadequate infrastructure.

He added that if given the opportunity, his administration would comprehensively overhaul the education system, beginning with teachers’ welfare and infrastructural development, among other areas.

Mr Lam-Adesina added that his ideology was in line with the philosophy of Obafemi Awolowo, Bola Ige and other past progressive leaders, who demonstrated a strong commitment to education.

“Many of our current leaders benefited from the free quality education initiative of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Bola Ige. I am from a humble background; the same education programmes offered by these great leaders contributed to my current status.

“So, children from poor backgrounds should be given equal opportunities to excel, as obtainable in the elite schools. If voted into power, I want to do things that will make the future of our children better than the present,” he said.

Mr Lam-Adesina added that a larger population in the state lacked essentials, such as quality primary healthcare, electricity and security.

He lamented that many qualified graduates could not secure jobs, forcing them to travel abroad at all costs.

“Unless we improve the essentials of life for our people, they will continue to travel abroad. It is our responsibility to work together and move the state forward to make things better for our people,” he said.

The APC governorship aspirant called for an urgent revival of farm settlements and other initiatives that would boost food production.

According to him, the full implementation of local government autonomy will provide grassroots government with enough resources to cater for the masses.

“We are pacesetters; we need to work together and ensure that we achieve development in the nooks and crannies of the state.

“It is our collective responsibility to make things work and reduce the hardship facing the people of the state currently,” he said.

Earlier, the chairman of the NUJ Oyo State Council, Akeem Abas, said that the union was apolitical by nature.

He said the forum was only to provide a platform for politicians and parties in the state to share their vision and programmes with the public.

(NAN)