By Yemi Olajutemu
Ado-Ekiti
The Nigerian Union of Teachers NUT in Ekiti state has congratulated Muslim members of the union as well as the entire Muslim community in the state on the occasion of this year’s celebration of Eid-el-Kabir.
The state NUT chairman Comrade Emmanuel Oke who led the leadership of the union as well as other members to the annual hosting of the celebration by one the prominent leaders of the Union Hon Suleiman Tokunbo Adeparusi in Ado Ekiti felicitated the faithful for witnessing another festival in good and sound health.
According to him, the period is a time to reflect more on how best to imbibe the teachings and lessons from Prophet Ibrahim, whom he said demonstrated obedience, patience and faith in sacrificing his only son Ismail to fulfill the commandment of Allah, which he said if properly followed would salvage the nation and the entire world from many troubles.
He applauded Hon Adeparusi for the annual hosting of teachers across the sixteen local government of the state on every occasion of Muslim festivals, saying that he had continued to demonstrate love and passion for them even after many years of retirement.
According to him,
“Hon Adeparusi had served the teachers in the state meritoriously and he is a role model to the leadership of the NUT for many decades. He has played so many roles at ensuring that teachers in the state and at the national levels are well treated. His contribution can never be underestimated.
These are people we are proud of and that we can beat our chest for that they will represent the teachers constituency well if given the opportunity.
We hope to have another era whereby the government will concede the position of the Commissioner for education to NUT just like we had in the first time of Governor Kayode Fayemi which produced the then Hon Kehinde Ojo as the commissioner in the state. We want the Governor to also consider these things in choosing people for us. We want people like Hon Adeparusi.
We are here today to join him celebrate because he deserves to be honoured.”
Com Oke charged the muslim members of the union to celebrate in a modest and moderate manner. He thanked the Ekiti state Governor Mr Biodun Oyebanji for the various life changing programs targeted at empowering the education sector of the state.
He commended the Governor for extending hand of fellowship to the Muslim communities in all the local government areas of the state as well as eradicating the political marginalization experienced by the people by giving them key positions and creating equal access to opportunities.
Thanking the NUT leaders for the honour done him, the former SA on political matters to the former deputy governor, and erst-while SSA on teachers’ matters to the Governor, Hon Tokunbo Sulieman Adeparusi assured them that he would not renege on the trust and reputation he had with them.
He lauded the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji for the teacher-friendly atmosphere created in the state particularly in the area of employment of about 1500 in primary schools and the proposed filling of academic vacancies in all secondary schools in the state.
Adeparusi added that the offsetting of the arrears of teachers and deduction have placed the Governor’s love in the depth of the teachers’ hearts.