By Akinnodi Francis, Ondo

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The Principal of St. Joseph’s College, Ondo, Pastor Adekunle Adeyinka, has called for increased investment in the education sector from all levels of government and private individuals to drive national growth and sustain development across all sectors.

He made the remark during the official presentation of science laboratory equipment to the school by the St. Joseph’s College Old Boys Association, 1997 set, in Ondo.

He urged governments to demonstrate the political will to improve the nation’s education system by committing more resources to the development of the sector at all levels.

He said:“Education is capital-intensive. It is a long-term investment. And we need to have that political commitment to commit resources to education. That would be the only solution.

“I am so happy today because one of the major challenges we have in the school is science laboratory equipment, especially with the ongoing West African Examination Council (WAEC) and the National Examination Council (NECO) exams.

“What the 1997 set has done today will go a long way in solving our challenges and motivate the students to study science and work hard.

“The old students have large hearts and they came to give back to the school that produced them. Science equipment is very costly, so this will encourage the students to be determined that one day, when they make it, they too will give back to the school that made them.”

He appreciated the old students for remembering the school, praying that God

Chairman Board of Trustee of the 1997 SJC’s Old boys, Deji Fasehun represented by Oluwabiyi Akinsulire
stated that the gesture was aimed at creating a conducive learning environment for the students especially the science students.

He noted that the equipment, valued at N2 million, was provided to improve the academic standard of the school.

“We thought that after leaving the school 28 years ago, we needed to give back. So we met with the principal and he told us that science equipment remains their major challenge. We contributed to provide it for the students’ use.”

Fasehun urged the students to be committed to their studies, disciplined, and effective in the use of the equipment.

“The science equipment can be used in the Biology, Physics, and Chemistry laboratories, so we want to urge the science teachers to use the materials and teach the students effectively,” he explained.