…As second LASSMUN conference holds in Lagos
SAT 06 MARCH, 2021-theGBJournal- The Lagos State Head of Service (HoS), Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo and the Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary of Education District III, Dr. Yinka Ayandele have underscored the need to leverage technology and innovation as a way of engaging students in teaching and learning in the State’s public schools.
Speaking at the 2nd Edition of the Lagos Secondary Schools Model United Nations (LASSMUN) Conference on Thursday, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola submitted that the advent of COVID-19 in the State would have made learning impossible but for the belief and investment of the State Government in innovative teaching and learning through technology.
The Lagos State HoS, who joined the hybrid event via Zoom, maintained that the primary goal of any educational system should be to support learning and the quality of learning outcomes.
He described the theme of the Conference, “Ensuring Quality Education Through Technology and Innovation”, which was adapted from the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4&9 as apt, stating that in today’s world, there is a need to leverage technology and innovation as an enabler of teaching and learning.
While making reference to how the COVID-19 pandemic made learning easier through technology, Muri-Okunola enjoined participants at the event to take full advantage of the Conference for self-development.
He stated that the event, jointly hosted by the State Government and the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), will avail students the opportunity of learning about diplomacy, negotiation, nation building and international relations among others, while providing innovation based solutions to challenges confronting the educational sector.
In her address, the Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo, expressed delight that the event was able to hold leveraging on technology unlike the Y2020 edition of the Conference that couldn’t hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
She noted that technology has made life easier as problems that couldn’t be solved some years ago are now addressed through the use of appropriate technology.
Adefisayo expressed the hope that in no distant future, technology is going to be a major player in addressing myriad challenges confronting the world like global warming and deforestation among others.
She, therefore, advised the participants to make good use of the skills gathered at the Conference for the future benefits of their immediate environment, schools and personal life.
The Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary of Education District III, Dr. Yinka Ayandele, noted that the positive effects of the maiden edition of the conference cannot be quantified as it helped participants improve their oral and verbal communication skills along with their leadership, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
She stated that the incorporation of other Districts in the State to participate in the Conference is a welcome development as it will provide them with the necessary hands-on experience to thrive in the global world.
Dr. Ayandele further stated that the present administration has identified the gap between education and technology and is beginning to bridge the gap through massive investment in technology as evident in the EKO EXCEL initiative.
While thanking the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) for the progressive partnership in the past, the Permanent Secretary solicited for more working collaborations with the Centre in future.
Also in attendance during the event were the Tutor-General and Permanent Secretaries of the six Education Districts in the State as well as members of the diplomatic corps.
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