The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has pledged to connect the campus of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) with internet connectivity to enable the management and students of the institution to enjoy free internet services.
Obaseki said this while giving his remarks at the League of Brainiacs, an academic competition between 15 faculties of the institution, held at the school premises, in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
The governor, who was accompanied by his wife, Betsy and other members of the State Executive Council, commended the students for organising the unique programme and showcasing their intellectual prowess and academic excellence.
He said, “I am pleased you organised this academic event yourselves which emphasises the reason why you are in school: to learn and acquire knowledge. I am totally committed to this event and what you have done here today.
“Our priority as a government is to be committed to young people who will lead tomorrow. This has made my administration emphasise basic education, ensuring we focus on the foundation, with the quality of education that will make the Edo child compete with any other child across the globe.
“We must look for ways for the government to support you. I urge you to play more roles in government as it’s your government. Nobody will come to fix the nation for us but we will fix it ourselves. We all can’t run away from this country but we will encourage you as youths to contribute to the development of the nation.”
On their performance at the competition, the governor further noted, “Listening to your various presentations, I said to myself how can this programme be sustained and ensure it continues. I am going to advise the Students Union Government (SUG) President to institute a Trust in his time and I will support that Trust to keep the programme going annually. I will put the first N10 million into that t]Trust so that it wouldn’t be a one-off event but will continue beyond the tenure of this administration of SUG.”
He added, “I assure you of my support before leaving office as governor. My present to you is that within 30 days from today, I will give you free Wi-Fi to ensure connectivity in the institution’s premises.”
On her part, the Edo First Lady, Besty Obaseki, while commending the students, reassured the government’s commitment to youth development, noting, “The governor is in politics to show Nigeria how to govern well. Nigeria’s political space has been taken over by people who don’t know. Those who don’t know have overwhelmed those who know in Nigeria.”
She added, “You are in an environment of people who know and are grooming young people who will know and people we need to govern Nigeria. Nigerians have suffered in the hands of illiterate people in government and politics as they have stolen our patrimony and impoverished the people.”
Also, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Lilian Salami, applauded the governor for extending infrastructural development to the federal government-owned institution of learning.
Salami, represented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Ekenwan Campus, Dele Ayinde, said: “The institution has never had it this good in terms of infrastructural development. We thank the governor for ensuring UNIBEN feels the impact of his administration.”
The SUG President, Comrade Israel Monye, while commending the governor’s strides in the education sector, said the programme was organised to harness the talent of the students of the institution.
