Corporate organisations urged to improve investment in education sector

The Chief Executive Officer of Olatunde Prestige and Belzaleel Manufacturing Ltd, Pastor Babatunde Ebidero, has challenged corporate organisations to increase their investment in the education sector.

He stated this on Monday while donating a set of furniture to the Baptist Day Nursery and Primary School, Akinale, in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Ebidero described investment in education as the biggest investment for the future, saying that corporate entities would not be doing themselves any good if they looked away from investing in people who could shortly turn things around for good for their organisations, and society at large because they had been privileged to be educated.

The entrepreneur said that it was wrong for people to always heap everything on the shoulders of the government when everyone had failed to also contribute their quota to support the efforts of the government.

He explained that the donation was part of his company’s corporate social responsibility and a way to identify and support the people of his host community.

Ebidero said, “This kind gesture is a way to identify with the development of the community that has hosted our company for years, and why not do something to provide them with modern chairs and tables, which we manufacture in our company?

“One thing that I have observed is that the yawning gap we have in terms of social amenities is because we have heaped too much on the government’s shoulders.

“I think the corporate organisations can do more; yes, they are doing it but they can do more. We must team up with the government and see how to make society better, especially in the area of investment in education, which is the biggest investment for the future of any society. After all, there are many research projects today being funded by corporate organisations.”

The Chairman of the School Based Management Committee of the primary school, Mr Ganiyu Lasisi, thanked Ebidero for helping with the provision of chairs and tables for the students and teachers.

He, however, urged the state government to help with the provision of more teachers, saying the school only had two teachers sent by the government while the parents were responsible for others helping to teach the children.

He equally called on the government to help with the provision of toilet and water facilities as well as the fencing of the school compound to enhance its security.

The headteacher of the school, Mrs Evlyn Davies, lauded Ebidero and his wife and the management of the furniture-making company for deeming it fit to be partners with the state government in providing a conducive learning environment for the pupils.

She assured the entrepreneur that the furniture would be taken care of and used the medium to appeal to corporate organisations and public-spirited individuals to join forces with the Gov. Dapo Abiodun-led administration in adding greater value to the education industry.