IT was a day of double celebration recently whenCity Profs Academy (CPA) marked its 5th anniversary with the official opening of ultra modern community library in memory of Nofisat Yeside Funsho at CMS Primary School Complex, Bariga, Lagos.In her welcome address, Chairman, CPA governing board, Prof. Grace Alele-Williams thanked Naston Engineering Nigeria Limited, who is the major sponsors of the library building. Prof. Alele-Williams also expressed her gratitude to the Chairman of Remik Promotion who also doubled as Chairman, Library Initiatives of City Profs Academy, Chief (Mrs.) Remi Agbowu for initiating the construction of the state-of-the art community library.While acknowledging the towering commitment of well meaning Nigerians for their support, Alele-Williams decried the state of affairs in the education sector and stressed that government,individuals, and corporate bodies must arrest the situation by investing in the future of the youth.Stressing further, Alele-Williams said she was not happy each time firms turn down Nigerian graduates on the excuse that they are not employable. She therefore advised the pupils present to acquire the reading cultureand be of good morals while she promised that the library would be stock with quality books for the pupils to read and pass their examinations.'I want you to read and make use of the library so that you will be able to talk sense in the society. You should not steal but think about how you will help others in future when you grow and hold high offices,' Alele-Williams advised.While tasking parents not to leave the issue of education to government alone, former head of Interim National Government, who also doubled as Chairman of the occasion, Chief Ernest Shonekan said it would be difficult to provide quality education because of the population in various schools. Thus, government and private sector needed to invest in education.According to him, 50 per cent of the nation's population was youths and he believed they have the numerical strength to participate in governance because the future surely belonged to them.Shonekan therefore lauded City Profs Academy for the gesture: 'We need to contribute to the growth of the education sector as well as the development of Nigeria. Government and the corporate bodies must accord the sector the priority it deserves.'Speakingat the event, Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, who was represented by the State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye commended the CPAfor its assistance to thecommunity and Lagos State at large.Oladunjoye thanked the donors who have been helping the government in the reform of the educational sector.She advisedparents and guardians that they have a major roleto play in the lives of their children by providing their basic needs and teaching them morals. She also promised to donate books to the library.The guest speaker and CEO, Skyhigh Consulting, UK, Dr. Tunde Ewedemi, who spoke on the impact of'Corporate Social Responsibility in Nation Building' said, 'It is a collective responsibility as we all have our roles to play in the society. It is not one person's role to develop the nation because commitment is the key to social responsibility and ethics is also important.'In her remarks, Lagos State SUBEB Executive Chairman, Mrs. Gbolahan Daodu stressed the importance of education. She called on well meaning Nigerians, parents and guardians to do theirbeat because government cannot do it alone. She appealed to teachers and pupils to make good use of the library.
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