Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has appealed to missionaries to be patient with the government on the return of the remaining educational institutions originally founded by them.
Amosun said that the missionaries should show understanding with his government on its actions concerning the take-over of their schools.
The governor stated this on Tuesday when he received members of the Old Students’ Association of Ijebu-Ode Grammar School who visited him in his office. The old students were in Abeokuta to inform the governor about plans to celebrate the centenary aniversary of the school scheduled for January next year.
He argued that returning the schools to their original owners at this time would defeat the original purpose and objectives of the founding fathers of such institutions.
He said it would not be proper to deny some children access to education because they could not afford to pay tuition.
Amosun commended the missionaries for laying a solid foundation for qualitative education in the state but said the government would hold on to some of their schools until the educational system is stabilisd.
He however assured that all the remaining missionary schools still being run by the state government would be fully returned to their original owners as soon as the state completes its various mega projects.
"We want to plead with the owners of the missionary schools to understand government's action.
"We want to collaborate with you because we have one area of common interest which is to ensure that our children are educated," the governor said.
He added that government was trying to ensure that the schools provide quality education that would enable their products to compete favourably with their colleagues in other parts of the world.
Amosun also identified the schools founded by the missionaries as those promoting qualitative education and moral standard with their products faring better than those of the private schools.
"Ogun State was the first port of call for the missionaries and that is why all good schools are in Ogun State. With the foundation obtained in some of these schools, the products are better than pupils of private schools," he said.
The governor described Ijebu-Ode Grammar School as one of the schools in the state which has produced world class individuals that are doing well in various fields of human endeavour.
The leader of the delegation, the Ajalorun of Ijebu-Ife, Oba A. A. Oguntayo, in his remarks, observed that the essence of the forthcoming centenary celebration is to thank God as well as to seek support for the projects embarked upon by the former students.
Oguntayo said that the celebration would hold next year with a week-long activiies, and urged the governor to support the activities lined up for the event.
The Vice-President of Ijebu-Ode Grammar School Old Students' Association, Dr. Dipo Bailey, appealed to Amosun to honour them with his physical presence during the celebrations.
