Lagos State Government, on Tuesday, pledged its support for the recent pronouncement by the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, that the age for students' admission into universities should be increased from 16 to 18 years.
At a news briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, the State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Mr. Tolani Sule, said the decision was in the best interests of students in the long term.
Mr. Sule explained that young tertiary education students seemed unsure of what they wanted in the university and quickly became discouraged by irrelevances and vices.
He said most of the students were not physically and mentally prepared for university education and that there was no reason to rush children through the rigours of university education.
On converting the state polytechnic to a University of Science and Technology, the Commissioner said many factors were responsible for the upgrade, including students’ reluctance to study technical skills at the polytechnic and employers’ non-interest in employing polytechnic graduates.
Mr. Sule said arrangements had reached an advanced stage for the take-off of the standalone Lagos State University of Medicine to ensure better training of doctors, saying Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had personal interest in the project and had committed to it to ensure its success.
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Giving a scorecard of achievements of the ministry in the last year, the Commissioner said special scholarships for People With Disabilities would commence this year, just as Governor Sanwo-Olu had approved the upward review of bursaries and scholarships for Lagos State indigenes in tertiary institutions.
“In alignment with the THEMES Plus Agenda, which prioritises inclusive development, I am proud to unveil the introduction of a Special Scholarship for Inclusion. This initiative is designed to support people living with disabilities and the multi-dimensionally poor, empowering them to pursue their educational aspirations and contribute meaningfully to the society. It is crucial to note that the Special Scholarship for Inclusion extends beyond Lagos State indigenes. It encompasses all residents enrolled in Lagos State-owned Tertiary Institutions, irrespective of their state of origin. This underscores our commitment to fostering inclusivity and providing equal opportunities for all residents of Lagos State,” said the Commissioner.
On the amount spent on scholarships, Mr. Sule explained that “N335,600,000 (Three Hundred and Thirty-Five Million, Hundred Thousand Naira) was approved for 1,591 (One Thousand, Five Hundred and Ninety-one) for the 2022/2023 Scholarship Award for Undergraduate & PhD recipients as well as the 2022/2023 Governor’s Discretionary Awards.
“N513,955,000 (Five Hundred and Thirteen Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty-Five Thousand Naira) for 6,884 (Six Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Four) Bursary Award for Undergraduates and Law School.
"A total of N849,555,000.00 (Eight Hundred and Forty-Nine Million, Five Hundred and Fifty-Five Thousand Naira) have so far been released in year 2023 for 8,475 (Eight Thousand, Four Hundred and Seventy-Five) Scholarship and Bursary Beneficiaries.”
