House of Representatives Speaker, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, yesterday pledged the ninth assembly’s commitment to develop youth capacities as a way to prepare them for political participation and leadership. He spoke at the Teslim Balogin Stadium in Lagos on the occasion of his constituency projects outreach for his Surulere 1 Federal Constituency.
The event, attended by political, economic and socio-cultural leaders as well as thousands of constituents, featured the presentation of education grants to 351 young constituents in public tertiary institutions across the country. The grants varied from N16, 000 to N210, 000 each. 1,020 secondary school principals and teachers were also equipped with laptops while 45 automobiles ranging from fully equipped medical ambulances, security vehicles and gadgets, new school buses, and retailing cars were also handed out.
The security patrol vehicles/powerbikes/security gadgets were handed over to the Nigerian Police Area ‘C’ Command, Surulere, Bode Thomas, Iponri Police Stations and the Nigerian Army. Gbajabiamila described the outreach as, among others, “The benefits of the interaction between the legislature on the one hand and the constituency and constituents on the other.” He explained that legislators’ responsibilities include feeling the pulse of the constituents and addressing their needs.
Harping on youth empowerment, Gbaja said: “Nigeria is blessed with a lot of young potential, young men and women who have the capacity, knowledge, know-how, drive, sincerity of purpose, but unfortunately yet to have the endowment to thrive. I promise you today and I give you my solemn word that those of us in the ninth assembly will continue to do what we can, whenever, wherever, however we can to make sure that these young boys and girls, who we call the greater tomorrow, are indeed given a seat at the table and perhaps someday, sit at the head of the table.”
On Friday, the Speaker inaugurated five renovated nursery/primary schools, four rebuilt roads, three new ICT centres, and a new Agricultural Training Centre building in his Surulere 1 Federal Constituency. The roads made it a total of 43 roads he has rebuilt and inaugurated in the 49 days of this year, according to the Speaker’s office. Gbajabiamila also inaugurated Elizabeth Fowler Memorial Nur/Pry School; Al-wajud Nur/Pry School; Ansarudeen Nursery/Primary School; Subuola Nursery/ Primary School and Methodist Nursery/Primary School.
Friday’s road projects are part of the about 137 Gbajabiamila has facilitated since assuming office as Speaker in 2019. Guests at the event praised the speaker for his selflessness and determination in the peoples’ cause. A former Minister of State for Defence, Sen Musiliu Obanikoro, praised Gbaja for being kind, dependable, and an omoluabi. Former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mr. Femi Pedro described Gbajabiamila as “a man of history because he has done what nobody else has done in this part of the country.”
A one-time Lagos State Commissioner of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun expressed delight with the Speaker’s performance for Lagos and the country. Lagos APC chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi expressed pride in Gbajabiamila, noting that the Speaker had fulfilled his many promises, including restoring the budget cycle to January – December.