THE EKO WORLD GUINESS RECORD

Eko o ni baje o! Never! Not even when the dividend of democracy is conspicuously written in golden pen everywhere in the street of Lagos, so glaring that the even the blind can see it.

What more could be the definition of “dividend of democracy” than the global honour recently bestowed on Lagos state as she write her name in the World Guiness Book of records when the state’s Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, and some other adults read a book with 4,500 students of Lagos schools. This as far as I am concern is a giant leap from a muddy valley to an Olympian height.

The state was reported to have achieved this giant feat at a programme organized in conjunction with the United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) and Ecole de Desssin to mark the 2011World Literacy Day Celebration. From there, it has been confirmed by the Guinness Book of World Record, that the state will hold a record as the world largest literature class where a study session of a story book is jointly read by adults and students. The deputy governor read a story book titled, ‘Time Changes Yesterday’ by Nyengi Koin to the children for 45 minutes.

For the record, it would be recalled that the record was previously held by the United Kingdom where adults read with 3,423 pupils. The Lagos state surpasses the record with a total of 1,077 this is indeed a giant leap from a muddy valley to an Olympian height.

Come to think of it, at the time of the event, the deputy governor was probably not planning to set any global record; she was simply planning to make impact. This success is simply the final product of accumulated work of the Lagos state government in the field of education, as a matter of fact; statistics has proven that presently, Lagos state has recorded about 87.8 per cent literacy level. The literacy level in the state had improved because the investment in education kept yielding desired results. Just last week the state held a book fair within the Lagos Television compound where hundreds of Lagosians had access to book at a giveaway price.

However, the deputy governor was quoted to have promised that the state is aiming at a 100 per cent literacy level, placement of education as priority and implementation of child right law which emphasizes the right of every child to education. I look forward to seeing this statements becoming a reality and not mere expressions of excitement.

For those of us who knew how well the deputy governor delivered in her previous office during the last tenure of the current government, we have no doubt that she will do whatever she says she will do. I wish to congratulate the entire Lagos citizen and especially her Excellency. Eko o ni baje o!