Former minister of state for education and governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Delta state, Olorogun Barrister Kenneth Gbagi has vowed to end payment of school fees in Delta tertiary institutions. This is one of his plans to assist youths and students of Delta state origin to attain their dreams in life. He is pained that most students and their parents pass through pains and hunger to raise funds to pay their school fees.
He has consistently spoken of this good plan he has in mind for students of Delta state origin who are schooling in the state tertiary institutions. In almost all his visits to stakeholders and at campaign rallies across the state, Gbagi has insisted on free education from primary to tertiary institutions in Delta state. This is one of the biggest news and plans Gbagi has for Deltans.
His concern arises from the fact that the present tuition fees in the state tertiary institutions are higher than what many parents could afford, hence many children are out of school, some are finding it difficult to pay their fees while others are struggling hard, selling properties and going hungry to pay their children’s fees. This is what Olorogun Gbagi has planned to stop in Delta state.
As far as he is concerned, there is enough money in the state which can take care of the education of all children in Delta state. One of the programmes of the Social Democratic Party is education and social justice for all Nigerians. The party has no space for children staying away from school for whatever reason. The party is interested in the welfare of all Nigerians. And Gbagi is bent on achieving that in Delta state.
Gbagi, a former minister of state for education, knows the importance of education. In his tenure as minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan, Gbagi made great impact in education. He established several schools, including universities, colleges of education and unity schools across the federation.
The SDP governorship candidate who served as minister in 2010 where he supervised and engineered the creation of 13 universities, including Federal University of Lafia and eight Federal Government Colleges, also restructured the working of agencies such as Universal Basic Education, WAEC and NTI, and spear headed the policy of using minimum of 6-credits in WAEC at two-sittings to be eligible for admission as opposed to the infamous one-sitting or nothing.
His performance in the federal education ministry shows that he is a man of his words. Over the years he has been known to stand by his words and not perturbed by what people got to say. Now that he is gunning for the topmost position in Delta state, he has made known to all Deltans that he is ready to abrogate all kinds of school fees payment from primary to tertiary institutions in the state.
In Delta state, there are two polytechnics, Delta state polytechnics, Ogwashi Uku and Otefe-Oghara, four universities, Abraka, Ozoro, Agbor and Asaba. Colleges of education in Warri, School of Physical Education in Mosogar, school of Nursing in Asaba, Agbor and Warri and others. From his plans, students in all these schools will no longer pay tuition fees. This in fact is big news for the people of Delta state.
This is good news for both parents and students in the state. Gbagi’s plan with this initiative is to relieve parents of the burden of school fees payment for their children. As at present, Delta state university schools fees is beyond N150,000 per session. And many students and their parents struggle annually to pay the fees, while some do a lot of menial jobs to pay their fees. Gbagi is set to end this struggle.
Gbagi, having been minister of education, knows the challenges parents go through and is never willing to allow parents and students in Delta pass through such pains to get education for their future survival. Gbagi is very much interested in the welfare and survival of Delta students and their parents and is ready to make things work for them.
For him, this action is a redefinition of the destiny of the people of Delta state. In his words: “We can’t depend only on prayers but we must apply action and make the decision to redefine our destiny as a people. Go back to your consciences and choose a leader who can manage your affairs and make Delta better for all of us.
“If our outgoing administration had the good of Deltans at heart, they wouldn’t be leaving Delta in such diré straits. Unless we all take the matter seriously, what we’ll have is continued exodus of our youths from the state seeking greener pastures. We must therefore wake up and rescue our state.
“Gbagi is set to help Deltans redefine their future. Our youths can no longer suffer. We will create job for all and make sure education is free at all levels. No child or youth of Delta origin should suffer. Our administration will ensure jobs for all and opportunity will be created for all to achieve their life dreams. This is what we plan to do for our youths.”
He called on Deltans to go for their PVCs and vote for SDP. He said his administration will never disappoint Delta people. The ball is in our court. If we play it well, we will be happy but if we fail to play it, we will continue in pains and regrets.
