Govs should emulate Jonathan’s Bayelsa 100 – Youth leader

State governors should copy the future leadership programme tagged ‘Bayelsa 100’ initiated by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2005 while he was governor, given the success of the programme so far, Chairman of the South-South Youth Forum, Moses Siasia has said.

When he assumed office as governor following the unceremonious exit of former governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, Jonathan initiated the programme which drew 100 talented pupils from very poor parental backgrounds from different communities in the state for the award of a six year full scholarship to study in Nigeria’s most expensive and high standard secondary schools.

The pupils were distributed in Nigeria-Turkish International College, Abuja, Dowen College, Lagos, Vale College, Ibadan and Bells Comprehensive College in Ota, Ogun State.

Siasia said the school needs of the students who are now in the senior secondary, had been paid in advance through a bank account which is being managed by a nongovernmental organisation.

“The message we need to send out is that people in leadership positions should replicate that in their various states,” he said, stressing that President Jonathan who recently approved the establishment several federal universities across the country has a penchant to turn around the country’s fortune through sound educational policy.

“When he was governor there was an initiative called schools for talented children where brilliant pupils were brought together in selected schools to be taken care of. So it’s a long term vision,” he said adding that Jonathan was thinking of returning as governor to consolidate his gains in the education sector when he was nominated to be vice president.

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