The Wife of the Kwara State Governor, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Sulyman Age Abdulkareem; and the Comptroller of Prison/Head of the Borstal Training Institution, Mrs Folashade Akinwale are among the personalities expected to grace the 2018 Commonwealth Day being organised by the Kwara State chapter of the Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows Association, Nigeria (COSFAN).
Other dignitaries that will eminently honour the celebration with their presence at the event that will take place at Borstal Training Institution, Ganmo, Ilorin on Monday (March 12, 2018) include the Permanent Secretary, Kwara State Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Mrs Mariam Garba among other dignitaries across the country and beyond.
Addressing journalists during a press conference held at the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Ilorin Bar Center, as part of activities lined up for the celebration, the General Secretary of COSFAN, Dr Biola Adimula said this year edition of the Commonwealth celebration is themed “Towards a Common Future”.
Dr Adimula said COSFAN is a non-profit organisation consisting of eminent Nigerians who have enjoined the sponsorship of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC), United Kingdom, in their respective postgraduate academic pursuits and career enhancement between 1960 and present.
The COSFAN scribe who read the address that was jointly signed by her and the COSFAN president, Dr Uduak Udom, stated further that the core mandate of the association is to promote and advance education and the welfare of Nigerian citizens.
She explained that the 53 countries of the Commonwealth celebrate the Commonwealth Day on the second Monday of March every year, adding that this year’s celebration is tilting towards how best the Commonwealth can address global challenges and work to create a better future for all citizens.
Adimula mentioned democracy; Human Rights; international peace and security; tolerance, Respect and understanding; and freedom of expression as the major core values of the Commonwealth.
Speaking about the activities lined up for this year celebration, Dr Adimula explained that the celebration began with visitations to St. Barnabas Primary School, Sabo-Oke, Ilorin and Bishop Smith Memorial College, Ilorin for the career talk on Friday and press conference later in the day at NBA bar Center, High Court premises, Ilorin.
The General Secretary added that the association’s celebration scheduled to hold at Borstal Training institution on Monday, 12th March 2018 will feature a series of programmes such as debate, Spelling Bee Competition, exhibition, speeches on Commonwealth and future of education in Nigeria as well as award and prizes presentation.
She disclosed further that the association will later in the day, after borstal training event, pay a courtesy visit to the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed in his office by 4: pm prompt as a mark of honour for his consistent support towards the development and growth of the association.
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