The Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Aliyu Umar Yusuf has described education as an important tool for development.
He stated this on Saturday at a symposium in Lokoja and organised by the National Association of Lokoja Local Government Students (NALLGS).
Rt Hon Umar, who was represented at the event by his Chief Press Secretary, Yabagi Mohammed, emphasised that education is not only key to development but also that it is the masterkey to unlocking the potential of the youths of the area and the society at large.
The Speaker, who used himself as an example of how education was capable of turning around the fortunes of people for the better, said he is an individual who has risen from his humble background to the present position he occupies in a society similar to where the students currently operate.
He urged the students not to give in to unnecessary peer pressure and influence capable of derailing their destiny, and enjoined to deliberately seek out mentorship from within the society and tailor their minds towards a focused and fulfilling future.
The Speaker stressed his commitment towards supporting youths in Lokoja Local Government and the state to better their lives, but advised that they should concentrate on productive knowledge that would make them better citizens in the country.
He thanked the leadership of the students body and the keynote speakers at the event for their commitment towards a better future for the young ones, adding that the time to design paths for a better future for students was now.
