42 Students From Lagos Jet Out For Leadership Training In South Africa

Aug 2, 2010 - Forty-two students from Lagos State public schools Sunday night left Lagos for Johannesburg for one-week leadership training in South Africa as part of the State Government's commitment to expose the State's youths to leadership education.

The students constitute the third set of students from the State's public schools sent abroad by the present administration for leadership exposure programmes since 2008.

Addressing the students before their departure, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Joke Orelope-Adefulire, counseled them to be of good behaviour as ambassadors of not only Lagos State but the entire country.

She recalled that the present administration, under the leadership of Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN), approved the leadership programme as an annual event pointing out that it was as a result of the commitment of the Government to invest in the youths who represent the future of Lagos.

The Commissioner told the children, "As members of the Children's Parliament, you have to be of good character and behaviour; you have to be good children as you are not only representing Lagos State but Nigeria as a whole".

Congratulating the students for making the list of those who are attending the programme this year, the Commissioner counseled, "You must make the best use of this opportunity as one of the few children chosen across the State for this programme. It is a great opportunity and you must make the best use of it if you want to be great".

Responding to the address of the Commissioner, Speaker of the Parliament, Hon. Abono Emmanuel, thanked the Lagos State Government for giving them the opportunity of the leadership training abroad. He also thanked the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation for her motherly care and interest since their tenure in the parliament.

The Speaker promised, on behalf of the other members that they would be of good behaviour and good representatives of both the State and the country. He promised the Commissioner that they would make full use of the opportunity given them to become better children and leaders on their return.

In separate interviews, the students expressed their appreciation of the State Government's efforts to create opportunities for them in all spheres of life saying the opportunity to interact with other children in other countries would make them better and responsible children.

Responding to questions from newsmen, the Speaker of the Parliament, Hon. Emmanuel Abono, expressed pride and joy "for this privilege to go out of the country to see what is happening in other countries and to gain more knowledge in order to make positive change for the better when I come back".

Asked about his expectations from the leadership programme, the Speaker said, "My expectation is to be inspired; my expectation is to come back to become a good Nigerian, a great motivator not only to the children around me but the children of Nigeria in general and the children of Lagos State in particular.

Senate President of the Parliament, Hon. Esther Afolayan, in her response to journalists' questions, said she would utilize all the knowledge acquired at the programme to make things better for the people around her.

The 42-member Parliament represents each of the State's constituencies. The Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Commissioner confirmed that the selection is always transparent as it is done in conjunction with international organizations with the best students chosen to represent the State's constituencies.

At the fourth National Children's Parliament, Lagos State Produced the second Senate President in July 2008 while Master Adeniji Lawal emerged Chairman House Committee on Child Development.

Eko o ni baje lai lai,

Good one. Kudos to Fash.

You can say that again.

There's nothing like inspiring and exposing kids to machineries patriotism, leadership and good public administration unlike the unexposed semi illeterates we have ruling the country.


I'm really proud of my state.

May God bless the great state of Lagos.

Why can't the government use that money to sponsor the workshop in lagos thereby giving room for more participants?. It's not as if they need special technocrats and equipments for leadership training. All these exercise do nothing but drain Nigeria's economy while making South Africa's economy more viable. Babapupa, this your Fashola worship is getting out of hand.

lovely building with the palm trees there . . . . . . . .

I really don't agree with this. It is totally wrong.
Are they trying to tell our youngsters that they cannot get leadership training in Nigeria? What sort of leaders do we expect them to be, when they are given a very solid impression that their home is so second rate it cannot host their leadership training?

tpiah:

lovely building with the palm trees there . . . . . .  . .

You mean you haven't seen a bldg and palm tree like that before?


You need to come out of Akute more and look around. I thought she wanted to say lovely ladies rather she was hailing a common building that looks like an secretariat bldg in Nigeria.

Beaf:

I really don't agree with this. It is totally wrong.
Are they trying to tell our youngsters that they cannot get leadership training in Nigeria? What sort of leaders do we expect them to be, when they are given a very solid impression that their home is so second rate it cannot host their leadership training?

People in Nigeria eat through their anus. They know the right thing to do but choose the wrong direction because it will be more profitable. By the time they calculate the cost of those suits, air tickets, food, hotels , etc. you will know why they made such decision.  Hosting the workshop in Nigeria will cost less and that means no profit for the organizers.Cursed nation.


Unless these kids paid for their upkeep and transport but any other thing besides that is fraudulent.

I think it is nice.
however, this might be the time for us to develop some kinda centres in Nigeria where leadership skills could be thought as well.
But well done great gov

her head is so big the cap no fit.

that aside, not a bad idea

^^it's the hair, not the head.


women have to fix their hair at all times, unlike men who are always good to go with short haircuts.


the outfits are nice though i think the females would look better and more chic in skirt suits.

The leadership Training should be held in Nigeria and taught or conducted by the following to include the topics:

Adooaaka, Balogun, Waziri, Onovo (Rule of Law, Crime prevention and Constitution)
IBB, OBJ, GEJ, Atiku, Daniel, Bankole,  (Good governance & Survivorship)
Akingbola, Ibru, (Banking)
GEJ, Akala, Orji, Bankole, (Leadership and Budget management)
Yerima, (Child Development)
Wole Rotimi, Ojo Maduekwe (Diplomacy and Cycling)
Akinluyi (PRO for family affairs)
Deji of Akure (Spousal duties)
Kwara women (Protest)

For one week of training it is estimated that the training will cost only N500Million

safariman:

The leadership Training should be held in Nigeria and taught or conducted by the following to include the topics:

Adooaaka, Balogun, Waziri, Onovo (Rule of Law, Crime prevention and Constitution)
IBB, OBJ, GEJ, Atiku, Daniel, Bankole,  (Good governance & Survivorship)
Akingbola, Ibru, (Banking)
GEJ, Akala, Orji, Bankole, (Leadership and Budget management)
Yerima, (Child Development)
Wole Rotimi, Ojo Maduekwe (Diplomacy and Cycling)
Akinluyi (PRO for family affairs)
Deji of Akure (Spousal duties)
Kwara women (Protest)

For one week of training it is estimated that the training will cost only N500Million

lol - No wonder they quickly went abroad - if thats all we have to off

Nigerian and their crude, backward and rudimentary ways of thinking . It doesn't have to be about you all the freeking time, it's called exposure and it's the beast education and exposure money can buy. How do you advance globally if you don't know what's going on in the  outside world? How do you compare, bring in new ideas and concepts to help your own people if you don't know what's out there? What did you get from close minded and unexposed village dwelling mallams ruling you?


The state has tons of leadership programs for kids including One Day Governors and One Day Commissioners to expose kids to instruments and of governing.

Like they say na the pekin wey never been to other people's father's farm dey claim say na hin papa farm be the largest,


Who cares what you clowns think anyways. Y'all are backward and it shows via the current situations in your respective villages and with crude and mindless thinking like these, your villages are doomed.

You clowns have so many great Ideas for Lagos state, unfortunately, your backward villages are in dire need of your crude and backward Ideas, stop wasting you Ideas on Lagos.

The experience will last them throughout their lifetime

Aloy_Emeka:

Why can't the government use that money to sponsor the workshop in lagos thereby giving room for more participants?. It's not as if they need special technocrats and equipments for leadership training. All these exercise do nothing but drain Nigeria's economy while making South Africa's economy more viable. Babapupa, this your Fashola worship is getting out of hand.

Very good points. I hope Fashola is not playing to the gallery.

Beaf:

I really don't agree with this. It is totally wrong.
Are they trying to tell our youngsters that they cannot get leadership training in Nigeria? What sort of leaders do we expect them to be, when they are given a very solid impression that their home is so second rate it cannot host their leadership training?

You know it looks very much like a publicity stunt. The money should certainly have been spent on something much more worthwhile.

tensor777:

You know it looks very much like a publicity stunt. The money should certainly have been spent on something much more worthwhile.

Aloy_Emeka:

Why can't the government use that money to sponsor the workshop in lagos thereby giving room for more participants?. It's not as if they need special technocrats and equipments for leadership training. All these exercise do nothing but drain Nigeria's economy while making South Africa's economy more viable. Babapupa, this your Fashola worship is getting out of hand.

This as got to be the most stupidest asinine statement ever. This is not just about kids siting in a classroom or some workshop, it's about exposing and  giving kids the opportunity to learn, see the world and bring new and better Ideas to better their communities back home.

I feel sorry for your people, their future is indeed questionable,

tensor777:

You know it looks very much like a publicity stunt. The money should certainly have been spent on something much more worthwhile.

What is more worthwhile than investing in your own kids and their future?

Thank God we don't have people like you in behind the desk Alausa.

babapupa:


. his is not just about kids siting in a classroom or some workshop, it's about exposing and  giving kids the opportunity to learn, see the world and bring new and better Ideas to better their communities back home.

Alhaji Babapupa, according to your original post you said these kids are going to South Africa on a one -week leadership course. Now when we get down to brass-tacks what exacly does that  mean? Workshops,Seminars, Symposium in South African hotels? Visits to tourist hot-spots?  I would have thought that all this could have been done in Nigeria.

Already some contractors have made a lot of money from this stunt before the plane has departed to Johannesbourg. What with all the tailored uniforms and stuff.

^Exactly!

babapupa:

What is more worthwhile than investing in your own kids and their future?

Thank God we don't have people like you in behind the desk Alausa.

With due respect, this is severe batu. Stop trying to make becomerich jealous, the new mod says it is not allowed.

@topic
What exactly is going to be taught to these kids in SA that can't be taught right there in Lagos? Aren't these young Lagosians being told that there is no worthwhile person or location at home, hence they've got to be flown abroad? Its a terrible shame, the training has already failed.
Why can't they go on tour of Alausa and be seconded there for the full one week?

I don't get some of the comments on this thread. Education is not just about the classroom; it is also about exposure to unfamiliar environments. What if the standards that Fashola is trying to expose these kids to is higher than what can be obtained in Nigeria? I don't think anyone should be complaining about some kids gaining international exposure when there are rogues in political offices who spend public funds to take their kids, wives, and girlfriends on international expeditions at govt expense.

@OP (babapupa_babamumu)

In your moronic world, you think that people are buying your jaundiced Fashola propaganda. . . .  May be U should enroll in a PR school where U can learn how to be a good spin doctor.   . . .  Silly Alaye man.

Katsumoto:

I don't get some of the comments on this thread. Education is not just about the classroom; it is also about exposure to unfamiliar environments. What if the standards that Fashola is trying to expose these kids to is higher than what can be obtained in Nigeria? I don't think anyone should be complaining about some kids gaining international exposure when there are rogues in political offices who spend public funds to take their kids, wives, and girlfriends on international expeditions at govt expense.

So we shouldn't complain about small rogues because there are bigger ones in Abuja?. This is the reason why Nigeria is the easiest country to loot. You didn't get your own education by galivanting the world. If he wants to expose them, take them around Nigeria and if what you wish to show them ain't there, make effort and bring those things there. Yes so many kids both in Nigeria and abroad travel expensively at the expense of their parents but this ones are travelling at the expense of tax payers. You and I know that the workshop they are going in RSA is batu. How much do you think this exercise cost?. Shouldn't it be better to spend the same amount at home and educate about 1000 lagos children?.

Use your common sense and not BabaPupasense for he is paid to type rubbish here. I am sure Fashola is not paying him up to N50K a month to obtain this type of unalloyed loyalty and sycophancy from him.

Beaf:

^Exactly!

With due respect, this is severe batu. Stop trying to make becomerich jealous, the new mod says it is not allowed.

@topic
What exactly is going to be taught to these kids in SA that can't be taught right there in Lagos? Aren't these young Lagosians being told that there is no worthwhile person or location at home, hence they've got to be flown abroad? Its a terrible shame, the training has already failed.
Why can't they go on tour of Alausa and be seconded there for the full one week?

They already have kids touring Alausa, they have One Day Governors and One Day commissioners, they have tons of programs designed to expose kids to leadership and administration. This is obviously an extension of the state's efforts and drive to expose and invest public school kids and if I might add, these are public school kids, not private.

The benefits and experience for the kids and the state goes beyond classroom training. How do you survive as a nation with unexposed kids with limited knowledge of the outside world?

The need to criticize anything and everything makes you sound irrationally stupid and shortsighted.

Are you people not tired of the unexposed and global illiterate mallams and local isi ewu people rulling you?

Beaf:

I really don't agree with this. It is totally wrong.
Are they trying to tell our youngsters that they cannot get leadership training in Nigeria? What sort of leaders do we expect them to be, when they are given a very solid impression that their home is so second rate it cannot host their leadership training?

I was wondering myself. . . . whats so technical about leadership training that it cant be carried out in Naija?

Yoruba:

@OP (babapupa_babamumu)

In your moronic world, you think that people are buying your jaundiced Fashola propaganda. . . .  May be U should enroll in a PR school where U can learn how to be a good spin doctor.   . . .  Silly Alaye man.

Typical and redundant. Though shall not feed the village troll.

too many bush people in this place.

Ibime:

I was wondering myself. . . . whats so technical about leadership training that it cant be carried out in Naija?

You get time to reply babaPupa who sold his soul to lagos govt for peanuts. the next thing he will do now is rain abuses on you. It's not as if this kids are going for oil technocrat training or International "electricity" engineering conference, rather they are attending conference and any college graduate can hold that conference. If what they are teaching there is different and spectacular, send 2 adults to witness and get their curriculum, design it at home and let them have it.

Bottom line: fashola's wife must have a hand in this and it is all about money. the cost of the trip will be quadrupled in due course. Rogues in power.

Aloy_Emeka:

So we shouldn't complain about small rogues because there are bigger ones in Abuja?. This is the reason why Nigeria is the easiest country to loot. You didn't get your own education by galivanting the world. If he wants to expose them, take them around Nigeria and if what you wish to show them ain't there, make effort and bring those things there. Yes so many kids both in Nigeria and abroad travel expensively at the expense of their parents but this ones are travelling at the expense of tax payers. You and I know that the workshop they are going in RSA is batu. How much do you think this exercise cost?. Shouldn't it be better to spend the same amount at home and educate about 1000 lagos children?.

Use your common sense and not BabaPupasense for he is paid to type rubbish here. I am sure Fashola is not paying him up to N50K a month to obtain this type of unalloyed loyalty and sycophancy from him.

I am sorry, did I miss something? Did those kids embezzle funds to go on this trip? No one learns everything by just staying at home. Why do municipal cities in the Western world send officials to other cities half way around the world to learn?

You don't know where I got my education, so you are not at liberty to comment about it. I am always in support of external education; so i will support this. The kids are going to profit from this and that is what matters.

Katsumoto:

I don't get some of the comments on this thread. Education is not just about the classroom; it is also about exposure to unfamiliar environments. What if the standards that Fashola is trying to expose these kids to is higher than what can be obtained in Nigeria? I don't think anyone should be complaining about some kids gaining international exposure when there are rogues in political offices who spend public funds to take their kids, wives, and girlfriends on international expeditions at govt expense.

It only exposes their limitations as human beings, they are too shallow to reason and think beyond their alloted capacities.