Education
Family decries ruins of Ogedengbe legacies as they suffered neglects from Aregbesola’s govt.
A former Commercial School which was later renamed Ogedengbe School of Science located at Isale General in Ilesa West Local Government, Osun State, Nigeria is now in ruins.
The school which was renamed in the year 2000 to honour the late African warlord and the saviour of the Ijesa people, Ogedengbe Agbogungboro has since been suffering from total neglect from the state government.
Mega Icon Magazine gathered that these schools including Orire Ogedengbe United Primary School, situated along Stadium Road, Ilesa, which was also named after the warlord, should get a lot more attention, since the governor of the state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is a native of Ijesaland. But, unfortunately, not much is left at the schools named after the ‘Ijesa Saviour’ to tell the story of the legend other than the ruins and pathetic situation, the legacies suffer.
These abandoned, neglected schools show the parlous, pathetic and deplorable situation of the legacies that could have produced more leaders of tomorrow, great scholars, technologists, medical experts and scientists amongst others.
Welcome to Ogedengbe School of Science, Ilesa housing broken windows, broken furniture, falling roofs, ceilings.
The atmosphere of the only science school in Ilesa aptly represents a war torn environment where horrors of war have been demonstrated. The school housed broken windows, broken furniture, falling roofs, and dilapidated structures including fence which was supported by Bamboo trees. The ugly story was the same in Orire Ogedengbe United Primary School, that was named after the legend.
Grounded school bus with evident of several years of abandonment.
Painfully, there are also no toilet facilities, laboratories, desks and chairs in the school as the only school bus remained grounded with evident of several years of abandonment. Currently, the school hall with soiled ceilings and floor is unbefitting and are now homes for rats and other animals to dwell.
Our reporter who visited the school recently bewildered how these students would cope during scorching sun and heavy downpour of rain as he found all the classrooms in poor condition, with broken doors, windows, scruffy chalkboards. And there were no recreational facilities. Some students were also caught writing an external examination inside the dilapidated school hall since there were no alternatives.
Some students were also caught writing an external examination inside the dilapidated school hall
According to an inside source, one of the teachers in the school who confided in Mega Icon Magazine disclosed that examination bodies have threatened to stop using the school if the school failed to provide a befitting hall for examinations. He stressed further that the government of the day has not been coming to their aide in spite of several calls made to the authorities.
Interestingly, direct opposite of the school is a newly renovated Elementary School by the Aregbesola led Osun State Government. This makes one wonders why the science school and the primary school named after Ogedengbe were deserted and allowed to suffer total neglect by the Ijesa born governor considering its importance even when the governor happens to be a trained engineer.
Newly renovated Elementary School Governor Aregbesola opposite Ogedengbe School of Science, Ilesa.
Our further checks also revealed that some Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs) had earlier supported best students in the school in form of scholarships. Subsequent to the total neglect and insensitivity of the Osun State Government, these schools now poses great security risks to students with the defective structures.
Orire Ogedengbe United Primary School, Station Road, Ilesa.
Speaking with our reporter, one of the great grandsons of the late warlord, Mr. Olutayo Ogedengbe while expressing his displeasure over the situation, said in spite of Ogedengbe being a saviour of his kinsmen, he seems to have been forgotten because his legacies are not catered for.
Ogedengbe laments, “I felt very sad because the situation here is not encouraging. No one can learn under this atmosphere, you can see the classrooms. There are a lot to be done here for the children to learn in a conducive environment. When its raining there is nothing one can do to help these pupils. No drinking water, no toilet.
” As a great warrior, Government supposed to be assisting in looking into this, you can see some schools renovated, but nothing of such happened here. We have consulted the government severally but no improvement”. He, however called on the family to come to the rescue of these schools.
Ogedengbe’s tomb remains unmarked
Even when the Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is being perceived as a cultural revivalist who appreciates culture and history, another Ogedengbe’s legacy that has suffered reckless abandonment from his 8 years of sitting on the most exalted seat in Osun State is the Ogendengbe house of war, the Obanla palace.
Ogendengbe house of war, the Obanla palace in ruins
High Chief Oyekanmi Ogedengbe Obanla IV who currently occupies the royal stool of his forefathers flayed the neglect of the Africa’s warlord. He lamented that the contributions of this great idol of Ijesa land have remained unsung and uncelebrated, adding that Ogedengbe Agbogungboro has not been given his deserved honour.
Not only that his grave in the royal house is unmarked, but his valour and gallantry have been relegated to the background and could best be described as a forgotten hero as the Obanla palace housing several war relics and artifacts also remains in shambles. The compound accommodating courtyards and rooms of various sizes had fallen roofs while most of the walls have caved in.
Commenting further on the neglect, the ruling Obanla recalled that in 2010 when the family celebrated 100 years of Ogedengbe’s exit, Osun State Government promised to turn the royal house into a tourist attraction centre/monument, but nothing has come up to redeem this pledge.
At this juncture, the proverbial African word which says : ‘same parentage does not compel compassion, only those sent by God shows compassion’ is apt here, may be the next governor of Osun State after Ogbeni Aregbesola might show interest towards reviving the lost legacies of the African legendary warlord, Ogedengbe Agbogungboro.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Oyo State Wing, has directed all public primary and secondary school teachers in the state to embark on an indefinite strike over the continued abduction of teachers and pupils.
The strike, which takes effect from Monday, June 1, 2026, is expected to ground academic activities across public schools in the state.
The union said the action became imperative following what it described as growing insecurity in schools and the prolonged captivity of abducted teachers and pupils whose whereabouts remain unknown.
In a statement jointly signed by the Chairman of the Oyo State Wing of the NUT, Hassan Fatai, and the Secretary, Salami Olukayode, the union expressed concerns over the psychological impact of the incidents on teachers, learners and parents.
According to the union, the lingering abduction cases have created fear and anxiety among teachers, weakened confidence in the safety of schools and discouraged many parents from sending their children to school.
The statement read in part, “The Nigeria Union of Teachers, Oyo State Wing, hereby directs all public primary and secondary school teachers across the state to commence an indefinite strike action effective from Monday, June 1, 2026, pending urgent and decisive action by relevant authorities on the abduction of teachers and pupils.”
The union explained that the industrial action was aimed at compelling the government and security agencies to intensify efforts toward the immediate and unconditional release of the victims.
It urged teachers across the state to comply fully with the directive, remain peaceful and law-abiding, and prioritise their safety while staying away from classrooms during the strike.
The NUT also expressed solidarity with the abducted victims and their families, assuring that it would continue to engage relevant authorities until the victims were safely rescued.
The union reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare, safety and security of teachers and pupils, stressing that the protection of school communities remained non-negotiable.
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.
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