ESAN hosts the first Parliamentary Summit in the Faculty of Education, Ife Education Parliamentary Summit with the theme, “the evolving role of education and legislation in building a more inclusive and developed society.”
The summit had in attendance the Dean of the Faculty of Education, Prof. T. O. Bello; Dr. T. O. Ajadi; the keynote speaker at the summit; the President of ESAN, Victor Adesokan; the President of STE, Comrade Catalyst; the Speaker of Accounting, Asaolu Samuel Blessing; the Speaker of FASA, Akanmu Sekinat Omolola; the Speaker of Political Science, Akinfenwa Gbolahan; and the President of NAASES, Akinmeji Ayodeji.
Rt. Honourable Speaker of the Education Students’ Representatives Council, Honourable Ojo Praise, delivered the opening speech as the summit commenced.
Addressing the students on the theme of the summit, in his keynote speech, Dr. Ajadi noted that to build and develop society, there needs to be a more inclusive society where there is trust, honesty, and fostering of communal living; and also take care of those who are uneducated in the society and educate the young ones so that we do not create an undeveloped society where ignorance and problem thrives.
He further emphasised that there must be equality in the society for it to be inclusive.
“We are trying to look at how we can prepare ourselves for future responsibilities. For a society to be inclusive, there must be equity. Everybody must be equal.”
“If the society is inclusive, in fact, we wouldn’t struggle for most of things we are struggling for. We wouldn’t be begging before we eat.”
“We are here to learn to be educated, but what are you planning to give to others?”
Also present at the summit were Ogunwale, the Great Poet, who presented spoken word poetry, and Bibliophile, who presented a story.
The panel section was moderated by Akinmeji Ayodele, with the panellists comprised of two former Erstwhile Education Students’ Representatives Council: Rt. Hon. Nofodji Fransis. A; Rt. Hon. Fakorede Azeez Abayomi; and GISU SRC Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ganiyu Yusuf. Rt. Hon. Fakunle Habeeb represented by Olayinka Damilare, the current GISU electoral commission secretary.
The panellists addressed salient issues affecting education and how to develop education in the nation. Teachers’ appreciation, putting the right people in charge of education, and speedy signing of educational bills were also noted as some of the ways to make this happen.