Yemi Adeola, managing director and chief executive officer of Sterling Bank Plc and Wole Soyinka, Nobel Laureate, have called on the organised private sector in the country to compliment the effort of the government in repositioning the nation’s education sector.
The duo who spoke at the third convocation ceremony of the Kwara State University, Ilorin, which coincided with the presentation of awards to winners of the Business Plan Competition sponsored by Sterling Bank Plc, noted that with the rising challenges facing governments at all levels, the growth of the sector relies mainly on private sector participation through appropriate funding and provision of content.
Adeola who was represented at the event by Ademola Adeyemi, the regional business executive, South West, expressed optimism that the foray into the sector by the bank would encourage other financial institutions to see the need to also contribute their quota to the growth of the sector for the benefit of students at all levels.
Soyinka who delivered the convocation lecture advised on the need for private sector to take more interest in the education sector and noted the need to fully develop the sector, which cannot be overemphasized, as it remains the bedrock of any nation.