The potential of Nigerian youngsters will be limited, according to Oba Abdulkabir Obalanlege, Olota of Ota, Ogun State, if under-18 kids are prohibited from taking the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
At the Iyana-Iyesi Multipurpose, Ota, Ogun, on Monday for the 15th Anniversary of Adedokun International Schools, Obalanlege made the observation while giving a message of goodwill.
On August 25, Prof. Tahir Mamman, the Minister of Education, said that the Federal Government will forbid pupils under the age of eighteen from taking the WASSCE and the National Examinations Council (NECO) exams.
Obalanlege claims that preventing pupils under the age of 18 from taking the WAEC and NECO exams will reduce their ability to compete with peers across the globe.
“Instead of restricting the potential of our youth, I advise the Federal Government to adhere to global best practices,” he stated.
Obalanlege stated that this will contribute to raising the nation’s educational standards.
He expressed his gratitude to Mr. Niyi Adedokun, the founder of Adedokun International Schools, and urged him to open more schools for the good of the people living in the state.
In return, Adedokun expressed gratitude to the Olota of Ota and gave him an award for helping the school overcome the difficulty it faced when constructing its structures.
He encouraged people to make investments in Ota and its surroundings, stressing that Obalanlege would always be there to support them.
As the school celebrated its 15th anniversary, Dr. Mike Fatukasi, the principal, remarked in his welcoming speech that it had reached an important milestone and attained excellence in teaching.
“As you know, we are ranked 17th out of the top 25 secondary schools in Nigeria this year,” stated Fatukasi.
Additionally, the Federal Government was encouraged to review and investigate the age restriction decision by Mrs. Patience Evans-Osabuohien, the chairperson of the Parents-Teacher Association of the School, Iyana Campus.
Evans-Osabuohien pleaded with the federal government to allow students under the age of 18 to enroll in universities.
She claimed that the kids might be drawn into criminal gangs, raising the nation’s crime rate.
According to the News Agency, long-serving employees and people received prizes in recognition of their contributions to the school’s growth.
According to NAN, the school opened four more sites in Sango-Ota after accepting 50 students when it first opened for classes in September 2009.
