Ex-Lawmaker Daramola Acquires 1,000 UTME Forms For Ekiti Indigenes

Daramola, who was a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, said the move was to relaunch Ekiti to an enviable height in the education ladder among the 36 states in the country and to restore the old glory when the state occupies the first position in education among other ethnic groups.

Speaking at the launch of the Scheme tagged; “Teaching How To Fish” in Ado Ekiti on Saturday, the APC chieftain explained that the programme will help the students from poor homes to get admission into higher institutions for the 2017/2018 academic session.

He noted that the initiative was necessary for youths of the state to be relevant and competitive in a 21st century economy like Nigeria.

Daramola bemoaned the level of hardship in the state saying that ambitions of many supposed Ekiti’s bright stars had been shattered by poverty, with many of them taking into peasant farmers and commercial motorcyclist.

Daramola disclosed that the programme will be carefully executed across the 133 towns in the state, to forestall marginalization and inject the principles of equity and justice into the policy.

“The free education initiated by the late Sage and former Premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo in 1955 benefited Ekiti in no small measures. Those who had resigned to consistent farming embraced the policy and many later became great academics.

“But such time, when Ekiti is being perceived as the best in education is gradually fading and no effort should be spared to reignite the flame for education among our youths. Ekiti cannot afford to lay back in education because that was the only flourishing industry we are renowned for.

“It is very glaring that the present PDP-led government in Ekiti has degraded and debased education by promoting tokenism and poverty-compliant scheme called stomach infrastructure. Little wonder, many of our graduates and young school leavers no prefer Okada riding than to seek admission for higher learning.

“But time has come for all hands to be on the deck to rescue our youths. Ekiti is rich in human resources and this spirit must not be allowed to diminish”, he said

“The future of the young ones matter to me. Education is a leveller . Without education I most definitely won’t be anywhere near the modest point I am in life. It behoves on me to help light as many other candles because doing so does not extinguish mine. Today we started giving the #Free #JAMB FORMS to #885 indigent young #Ekiti students across #177wards in the state under the #teach them how to fish initiative.”

In addition, the APC chieftain said the empowerment initiative will be followed by empowerment of 5 women to be trained and equipped to earn modest livelihood.