Harvard: Femi Gbajabiamila, Rep Speaker Apologises To Nigerians, Students

Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, has apologised over his recent move by posting photos of himself attending a leadership course at Harvard University, United States, and has described such move being insensitive to the current issue in the country’s education system, especially in the issue of Striking varsity teachers.

Freshreporters had earlier today reported that the speaker shared on his twitter handle of him undergoing a leadership course at Hazard University.

This is coming amid closure of Nigeria universities and NLC protest in solidarity with striking unions. I’m lieu to this, Gbajabiamila, the speaker has received some knocks from Several activist who slammed his move amid present issue in Nigeria.

The speaker has however noted his moved as being insentive and has called on Nigerians for forgiveness.

He stated this via his twitter handle today to apologise.

In his statement partly read, he stated, “Yesterday, I posted a picture of myself at the @Harvard @Kennedy_School, undergoing a course. That post was not sensitive to the present feelings of fellow citizens, especially parents and students who are presently bearing the brunt of the ongoing closure of public universities owing to the unresolved issues between the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“I apologise for the post at this time, and I hope you will understand that it was not my intention to cause disaffection. As Speaker of @HouseNGR, I have made multiple interventions within the powers of the legislature to avert the ongoing strike. I had direct engagements with ASUU, relevant government agencies. The House of Representatives is still keenly involved in seeking a resolution to the issues so our students can return to school. We all await the outcome of the two-week ultimatum given for the conclusion of negotiations with ASUU.

“I have long been a champion of public education in Nigeria, and I have consistently advocated programs, policies and investments to improve the quality of public education in the country. In my constituency and beyond, I have attracted a new international students hostel in UNILAG, facilitated access to free internet WiFi in all public tertiary institutions in Lagos State; provision of modern ICT centres in 24 secondary schools across the state, provision of scholarships and grants to indigent students in selected tertiary institutions, provision of laptops to all secondary school teachers in my constituency and hundreds of students, facilitated the renovation of over 15 public schools in Lagos.”