LASACO partners Federal Dental Technology College on ICT

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CORPORATE bodies have been enjoined to recognise that the development of different socio-economic sectors cannot be left in the hands of governments alone, and for them to make genuine contributions to the development of the country.

Making the call Tuesday in Enugu, Enugu State, during the commissioning of new ultramodern Information and Communications Technology (ICT) equipment, donated to the Federal College of Dental Technology and Therapy, Enugu, the Managing Director of Lagos State Assurance Company (LASACO), Mr. Sola Ladipo Ajayi, noted that, “Government alone cannot fund education and we don’t need to play politics with education. All hands must be on deck to ensure that our next generation gets the educational foundation that it needs. That foundation should be anchored on information communications technology. “

LASACO, he said, “has made a donation of 50 units of desktop computers, central processing units (CPUs) and uninterupted power supply (UPS), in furtherance of our partnership, and in recognition of the fact that ICT represents the next level of any worthy education. We promise that our support is not a one-off contribution, as we will always partner with you.”

Rector of the institute, Dr. (Mrs.) K. B. Sofoluwe, hailed the exemplary gesture of LASACO to replace the school’s obsolete ICT equipment “against the backdrop of the current global economic recession, which is more biting in oil producing countries because of the fall in crude oil prices.”

According to her, “the acquisition of these ultra-modern ICT equipment marks a major leap in our preparation to becoming a degree-awarding institution. We will continue our drive towards soliciting and obtaining assistance to develop this institution. We will work assiduously to restore the past glory and return the institution to its prime position, not only in Nigeria, West Africa, but indeed Africa.”

The rector noted that, the school, “is the first of its kind in the entire West African sub-region. Almost all West African countries got their foremost dental practitioners trained in this institution as far back as when it was situated in Lagos.

“Since I assumed the leadership of this institution in 2008, the state of infrastructural facilities has been very deplorable, the partial reason being the state of funding and inability to assess funds from donor agencies like TETFund, etc.”

She explained that it was the determination of the management “to turn things around positively and leave an indelible impression in the school. Convinced that we cannot leave everything to government, I decided to reach out to corporate organisations and philanthropic bodies both within the country and abroad, soliciting for assistance. We hope that other organisations will follow the example of LASACO.”