In line with the THEMES Plus Agenda of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration, Lagos State government has introduced the Special Scholarship for Inclusion of People With Special Needs.

The Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Tola Sule, disclosed this during the Lagos State 2024 Ministerial Press Briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday.

Sule said that the Scholarship for People With Special Disabilities is an initiative designed to support PLWDs and the multi-dimensionally poor, empowering them to pursue their educational aspirations and contribute meaningfully to the society.

The commissioner noted that the initiative was in alignment with the THEMES Plus Agenda of the current administration, which prioritises inclusive development.

While noting that the Special Scholarship for Inclusion extends beyond Lagos State indigenes, Sule said: “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.’

As regards the People With Disability Law of Lagos State, which promises free education for all PWDs, the commissioner announced “that the Lagos State government has allocated budgetary provisions in the 2024 Budget to fulfil this mandate via the introduction of the Special Scholarship for PWDs.

“We are committed to ensuring that every individual, regardless of their abilities or socio-economic background, have access to quality education.”

While also speaking on the scholarships and bursary payments in 2023, Sule said: “N335,600,000 (Three Hundred and Thirty-Five Million, Hundred Thousand Naira was approved for 1591 (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 6884 (Six Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty) Bursary Award for Undergraduates and Law School.”

According to Sule: “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.”

Unveiling the ministry’s scorecard for the year 2023, Sule said that the “Agency for Mass Education was established by Edict No. 5, Volume 24 of 31st January 1991 (Lagos State Of Eial Gazette) with the directive of the Federal Government through the National Mass Education Commission (NMEC), which directed all states of the federation to establish a non-formal education subsector to redress the menace of illiteracy.

“The agency established seven area to effectively monitor adult literacy, vocational training and the continuing education centres spread across the state.”

On mass literacy education, Sule noted that additional 32 adult literacy centres were established in 2023, making a total of 712 as at March, 2024.

As regards learners’ enrolment, the commissioner noted that the total number of adult literacy learners in all the adult literacy centres is 17,800 as at March 2024.

On Continuing Education Centres (CEC), the commissioner noted that additional 125 CEC/tutorial centres were discovered during the monitoring exercise, adding that the total number available presently at the data bank of the agency is 2,515.

He said that 6,431 trainees enrolled in 2023 at the eight agency’s vocational training centres (VTCs) while 5,912 graduated, adding that the total number of trainees enrolled in 2024 is 2,219.

According to the commissioner: “SMILE Foundation, in collaboration with the agency, trained 100 out-of-school youths and adults on various vocational skills.”

He said Action Health Incorporated partnered with the agency to empower 500 trainees with start-up equipment.

Sule said that stakeholders’ for a were held on mass literacy, vocational training and continuing education centres, even as he added that seven plots of land were donated to the agency by Akarakumo Community in Badagry for skills acquisition to thrive in that area.

He commended the governor for graciously approving the 65% increase in the facilitators’ stipend while the vocational instructors’ stipend was increased by 50% in the first quarter of 2024. (Daily Independent)

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