Education
EDUCATION: Makinde relaunched SGBs in Oyo
The Oyo state governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde, on Monday formally reinaugurated the School Governing Boards (SGBs) for the 643 secondary schools in the state, saying the board will help to reinforce his administration’s achievements in the education sector.
It would be recalled that the immediate past Governor of Oyo state, late Senator Abiola Ajimobi, had earlier inaugurated the School Governing Boards (SGBs) with a mandate to improve the performance of the state’s students in public examinations, and build good character of the students.
Speaking at the event which was held at the University of Ibadan, the late Ajimobi stated emphatically that the initiative became imperative owing to the poor quality of students’ in public examinations and dwindling fortunes of the state educational system, in its entirety.
Governor Makinde, however sacked the entire 643 School Governing Boards (SGBs) of public secondary schools in the state.
Makinde, in a circular letter obtained online, signed by one C.O Bolaji (Mrs) for the state Commissioner for Education, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye, enjoined the principals to ensure that all school (s) materials in the Board’s custody are handed over to the school authority before their departure.
The circular letter, dated 11th May, 2021, also read, “In furtherance to this administration’s determination to reposition the School Governing Boards in Oyo state, I have the directive of the Honorable Commissioner to announce the disssolution of the 643 school governing boards of public secondary schools in the state
“In view of the above, government is immensely appreciative of their contributions to the the development of Education in the state.
“The principals, are however enjoined to ensure that all school (s) materials in the Board’s custody are handed over to the school authority before their departure”.
Inaugurating chairmen and members of the SGBs for the 643 state-owned secondary schools, Governor Makinde declared that all the policies introduced by his government in the education sector have been yielding positive results.
He was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun, at the event held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the governor as adding that the policies of his administration have also brought about the qualitative and sound education system currently being witnessed in the state.
According to him, such policies have led to improved access to quality education as evident in the drastic reduction in the number of out of school children and enrolment explosion in public schools as well as improvement in learning outcomes, among others.
The governor, who stated that the government is embarking on the inauguration of the SGB as a broad-based participatory management structure in the schools, said that the SGB structure is a means of attracting alternative funding sources for education in the state.
He added that it would also be a means of ensuring prudence and transparency in the utilisation of available resources for maximum impact.
He said: “It is a great honour to stand here before you today as we inaugurate the distinguished members of the Oyo State Schools Governing Boards for all the 643 secondary schools in our dear Pacesetter State.
“You will recall that at the inception of this administration in 2019, we expressed our desire not only to improve the quality of education available in the state, but also to make it easily accessible to all, irrespective of social background.
“We also made it known that we shall require and encourage greater involvement of willing and interested public and private sector stakeholders in the joint management of our schools.
“I am happy to inform you that all policies we have instituted to improve access to quality education have been yielding great dividends.
“How else shall we interpret enrolment explosion in our public schools and improved learning outcomes than that confidence is gradually being restored in public education.
“To reinforce the benefits of our reform policies, there is the need to ensure that the management of our public schools is sufficiently conditioned to administer the delivery of even more accessible quality education for the development of the state.
“This is why today we are here inaugurating a broad-based participatory management structure.”
According to Makinde, the administration has been presiding over a focused, prudent and responsible management of resources for the benefits of Oyo State people, hence the institution of the SGB is another quest to further reinforce the achievements already recorded by the administration in the education sector.
The governor added that all sectors in the state, including infrastructure, health, security and sport developments have benefited immensely from his administration’s prudent management of resources.
He encouraged members of the School Governing Boards to see their appointments as a call to service, urging them to see the assignment as a way of giving back to the community that made them and an avenue to contribute their quota to the development of Oyo State.
He noted that with the wealth of experience of the members of the SGB, the state is reassured of more improvements in the education sector, saying: “Apart from making education totally free, recruiting teachers and supplying furniture to schools, our Government has recorded many giant strides in the education sector the mention of which time will not permit here today.
“Suffice it to say that despite all the laudable achievements, we are not resting on our oars for there is still a lot to be done. With your continued support, we are confident we will achieve the Oyo State of our dream.”
The governor also admonished the Chairmen and Secretaries (School Principals) to work together in harmony and ensure that all actions taken by the various stakeholders serve a common goal: the good of the students and the system.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Education, Barr. Abdulrahman Abdulraheem, listed some of the achievements of the administration in the education sector, including the procurement of furniture for students, appointment of 5,000 teachers and 700 education officers, purchase of science equipment.
Others, he said, include the sole ownership of Ladoke Akintola University, organisation of intervention classes for graduating SSCE students, purchase of textbooks and notebooks for students across the state, construction of over 50 model classroom buildings, among others.
He lauded the governor for giving approval to the retention of the School Governing Board, saying: “From what could be seen and records available, the School Governing Boards in our schools have dutifully, wonderfully and passionately attended to the various necessities of the schools.
“These include infrastructure, pedagogical issues and personnel. The Boards have been able to effectively harness available resources and goodwill to impact and improve our secondary school system. We thank God Almighty that every stakeholder has played and is assiduously playing the expected role very well.
“As we usher in the new set of Leadership into the School Governing Boards of 643 public secondary schools in the state, I want to urge the new Board Chairmen and Secretaries i.e. Principals to work together harmoniously and selflessly to achieve a total turnaround of our schools.”
SGB members selected to represent the three senatorial zones were presented with symbolic letters of appointment.
No fewer than 2,243,816 candidates on Thursday commenced the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board across accredited Computer-Based Test centres nationwide.
The figure represents a 10.5 per cent increase from the 2.03 million candidates recorded in 2025.
The examination, which began on April 16, is being conducted in about 1,000 CBT centres nationwide, with candidates scheduled in four daily sessions to reduce congestion and improve verification processes.
The board said it had deployed biometric verification and real-time monitoring systems to safeguard the integrity of the exercise, noting that candidates whose biometric details could not be authenticated would be rescheduled.
Candidates were advised to print their examination slips from the JAMB portal to confirm their schedules and arrive at least one hour before their examination time.
Under the revised timetable, first-session candidates are expected at 7:00 a.m., followed by 9:00 a.m. for the second session, 11:00 a.m. for the third session, and 2:00 p.m. for the final session.
JAMB disclosed that Lagos State recorded the highest number of registered candidates with 381,814, followed by Ogun with 137,156 and Oyo with 122,662. Kaduna recorded 103,498 candidates, while the Federal Capital Territory had 102,961.
Other states include Rivers with 105,584 candidates and Kano with 83,167, while Borno and Zamfara recorded the lowest figures with 13,483 and 14,861 candidates respectively.
Outside Nigeria, participation remained low, with Côte d’Ivoire recording 32 candidates, followed by Equatorial Guinea with 16, Burkina Faso with 14, and the United Kingdom with 12 candidates.
As part of efforts to enhance efficiency, the board increased the number of CBT centres but delisted 23 centres across several states, including Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Delta, Edo, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory, over technical deficiencies observed during the mock examination.
The board said the action was necessary to maintain operational standards and ensure the credibility of the examination process.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force dismissed reports of insecurity at some centres, describing such claims as unfounded.
The police said it had deployed additional personnel, including patrol teams, perimeter surveillance units and rapid response squads, to ensure the safety of candidates nationwide.
The force added that it was collaborating with other security agencies to monitor the exercise and respond swiftly to any threats.
It assured parents and candidates of adequate security, urging candidates to comply with examination guidelines, arrive early and report suspicious activities.
The police also advised the public to disregard unverified information on social media and rely on official communication channels.
JAMB reiterated its commitment to transparency, warning candidates against accepting admissions outside its Central Admissions Processing System.
It stressed that any admission conducted outside CAPS would be considered illegal and would not be recognised.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has delisted 23 Computer-Based Test centres nationwide following technical deficiencies recorded during the 2026 mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
The Board disclosed this in a bulletin issued on Friday and signed by its Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, as preparations intensify for the 2026 UTME scheduled to hold across the country from April 16 to April 25.
According to JAMB, the mock examination was designed to assess operational readiness and identify centres that failed to meet the required technical standards.
“Following the conduct of the 2026 Mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, the Board has delisted 23 Computer-Based Test centres for technical deficiencies,” the statement read.
The Board added that several centres with minor issues had been placed on notice, warning that continued non-compliance could lead to further sanctions. It also stated that one centre would no longer be used for any of its examinations.
JAMB disclosed that a total of 2,243,816 candidates registered for the 2026 UTME, with Lagos recording 321,814 candidates, Kaduna 303,498, the Federal Capital Territory 302,963, and Ogun 137,156.
To improve accessibility and logistics, the Board said it increased the number of approved examination centres to 1,000 nationwide, up from fewer than 800 in 2025.
However, an internal review conducted after the mock exercise revealed that some centres failed to meet operational and technical benchmarks, prompting their removal from the approved list.
The delisting followed reports of widespread technical glitches during the mock examination, including network failures, system malfunctions and delayed commencement of tests in several locations. Some candidates and parents also complained about hours-long waiting periods at affected centres.
The affected centres are located in Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Oyo and Plateau states.
Among the delisted centres are Micben Seat of Wisdom Academy, Ukwa West, Abia; Bishop Crowther Seminary CBT Centre, Awka, and The Oracle Lens, Nnokwa, Anambra; Derby’s Young ICT Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa; Avid ICT Solutions CBT Centre, Asaba, Delta; and Daniet Global Resources CBT Centre, Benin City, Edo.
Others include De-Lite CBT Centre, Maitama, Abuja; Florin High School CBT Centre, Ejigbo; Folbob CBT Centre, Lakowe; Great Kezino College CBT Centre, Ikorodu; Obans CBT Centre, Ikorodu; and Teesas Learning and CBT Centre, Lekki, all in Lagos.
Also affected are Braingate Model Schools CBT Centre, Arepo, and Greenhills Academy CBT Centre, Itele, Ogun State; Oduduwa University CBT Centre, Ile-Ife, Osun State; Lasting Glory Schools CBT Centre, Ibadan; Nesam International School CBT Centre, Ibadan; SAF Polytechnic CBT Centre, Iseyin, Oyo State; and Rabjib Computer Academy, Jos, Plateau State.
JAMB stated that the decision formed part of efforts to safeguard the integrity of its examination process and ensure that only centres that meet its operational requirements are used for the main UTME.
The Board assured candidates that necessary measures had been put in place to ensure a smooth conduct of the examination nationwide.
The Federal Polytechnic Ayede on Thursday matriculated no fewer than 705 students for the 2025/2026 academic session, with the management warning the newly admitted candidates against cultism, examination malpractice and other social vices capable of truncating their academic pursuits.
The Acting Rector of the institution, Dr. Azeez Olasunkanmi Ojo, disclosed this during the Polytechnic’s fourth matriculation ceremony held at its temporary site in Iresa-Pupa, Oyo State.
Ojo described the ceremony as a historic milestone for both the institution and the new students, noting that the matriculation marked their formal admission into an academic community built on knowledge, innovation and character.
“It is with great pleasure and a deep sense of responsibility that I welcome you to this fourth matriculation ceremony. This event signifies your formal admission into a community committed to knowledge, innovation, character and excellence,” he said.
The acting rector urged the students to remain focused and take advantage of the opportunities available to them, stressing that discipline and dedication were critical to their success.
He added, “You must take your academic work seriously and uphold the values of learning, dexterity and sound moral conduct. Avoid cultism, examination malpractice and drug abuse, as these vices can jeopardise your future and cut short your dreams.”
Representing the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education, Prof. Idris Bugaje, the South-West Zonal Director, Elder Ayo Aroge, commended the management of the Polytechnic for its steady growth.
He charged the newly admitted students to embrace the Federal Government’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training initiative to acquire practical skills and become job creators.
“Technical and vocational education remains a viable pathway to self-reliance. I urge you to exploit this opportunity and equip yourselves with relevant skills that will make you employers of labour,” Aroge said.
Ojo also paid tribute to the pioneer Rector, Engr. Dr. Taofeek Adekunle Abdul-Hameed, for laying what he described as a solid foundation for the institution’s growth and development.
He further disclosed that the Federal Government had approved a 20-kilometre road project to improve access to the Polytechnic’s permanent site in Ayede, Ogo-Oluwa Local Government Area.
According to him, the road will run from Idi Araba Junction to the institution’s permanent site and extend to the Oolo community in Oriire Local Government Area, including internal access roads within the campus. The don lauded the federal government for what he described as timely intervention.
“Addressing access challenges will significantly enhance our relocation efforts and accelerate infrastructural and academic development,” he said.
The acting rector appealed to stakeholders, corporate organisations, alumni and philanthropists to partner with the institution to achieve sustainable growth.
He also appreciated parents and guardians for entrusting their wards to the Polytechnic, assuring them that the students would be groomed into responsible and productive members of society.
“Dear matriculating students, this is your beginning. Stay focused, work diligently and strive for excellence. The future is yours to shape,” he added.
Dignitaries at the event included the Aresa-Pupa of Iresa-Pupa, Oba Moses Olayiwola; the Registrar, Mrs. Bukola Elizabeth Dairo; the Bursar, Mr. Oluwaseyi Abiola Afolabi, represented by Deputy Bursar, Mr. Lukman Buari; and Acting Polytechnic Librarian, Mr. Dare Samuel Adeleke, among other principal officers, staff and students.
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