Education
Oyo: Makinde inducts 5,000 newly recruited teachers
No fewer than five thousand (5,000) teachers recently recruited by the Oyo state government and 700 non-teaching staff converted to teaching cadre been inducted.
The state governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde has charged the inductees to embrace professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
Speaking at the Induction and Training Programme for the new teachers employed by the post-Primary School Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, ton Monday, the governor noted that the teachers’ appointments were based on merit.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Taiwo Adisa, quoted the governor as equally saying that his administration will continue to train and retrain the new teachers and give them all the necessary support needed for the success of their works.
He said: “I want to use this opportunity to congratulate the inductees. I am sure that the majority of you got this appointment by merit. It is not because you know a Permanent Secretary or the governor or anybody. You applied, they called you for the test, you did the interview and you were successful.
“Well, you may or may not know. I was going to cancel my engagement here but I am glad that I came. You are being inducted into a noble profession and some of you will go on to do some other things. This is just the beginning but not the end for all of you.
“Some of you will leave the teaching line and become politicians. We may have the future governor here; it has happened before. Alhaji Lam Adesina was a teacher before he became governor. So, don’t rule anything out. Even if you don’t become governor, two of my teachers are here, some of the students you will teach may become governor.”
Makinde, who maintained that his administration will continue to put the interest of the state first, added that his administration has been expanding the economy of the state through different policies and programmes.
He charged the teachers to always put the interest of the state first in the discharge of their duties and to see themselves as indispensable partners in the task of repositioning Oyo State and taking its people from poverty to prosperity.
“People have been asking how we have been doing it in Oyo State. Others are paying half salaries and struggling. They are rescinding their decisions to pay the national minimum wage, but we are paying the minimum wage, the consequential adjustment and we are also recruiting. Not just teachers, even health care professionals. We are also recruiting environmental officers.
“Also, the first batch of our agri-business trainees on the YEAP programme have been trained. Those in the second batch have started their training yesterday and we have decided that we will train up to 10,000 of them.
“So, we are creating opportunities in Oyo State. We are expanding our economy, and education is one of the pillars of this administration.
“The burden that we have to carry is such that everything that you do in your various schools will definitely reflect on the overall performance of this administration,” the governor added.
He also called on the new teachers to partner with the state government in its bid to improve the education system, saying that the state has moved from number 26th to 11th position in the comity of states.
He said: “So, I ask you to partner with us, to continue to make the kind of progress we have continued to see so far. When we came in, Oyo State was at number 26 out of 36 states. We were behind all the states in the Southern part of the country but, today, we have moved to number 11. So, you have to continue on that path, and one thing that I promise you is, this administration will not abandon you.
“We will continue to train and retrain you. And we will continue to provide opportunities for you. But I beg of you, our future generations are the ones that you are going to mold. So, every time you wake in the morning to go to your various schools for your assignments, have it at the back of your minds that the little contribution you are making has ramifications for our future as a state and as a country.”
Earlier, the Chairman, Oyo State post-Primary Schools Teaching Service Commission, Pastor Akinade Alamu, said the support given to TESCOM by the governor helped the commission to achieve success in many areas, including the welfare of the staffers and the approval of 1,500 principals of secondary schools who were on Grade Level 15 because there were no vacancies for them to become principals of secondary schools.
Alamu said: “Your Excellency approved that they all be promoted to Grade Level 16. You maintained that their promotion should not be tied to vacancies in secondary schools as vice principals.
“Your Excellency, at the inauguration of this TESCOM board in October 2020, you gave us a mandate to make positive impact to improve the image of TESCOM, which was riddled with corruption and other vices.
“You made a promise to us that you would support us with all that we might need to achieve success in this assignment, and Your Excellency has not failed at any time to give us the greatest support.
“Also, Your Excellency approved that training be conducted for the principals and vice principals of secondary schools in Oyo State.
“You also graciously approved the creation of four additional TESCOM zones in Oyo State. This brings the zones in Oyo State to 10.
“Now, to the issue proper, which is the appointment of 5,000 teachers. The governor approved that they be appointed and also approved money for the CBT and the interview of these applicants. Your Excellency, this is the result of the approval you gave for the appointment of 5,000 teachers.
“They have been posted to all schools in Oyo State, all local governments, and we have been monitoring them; most of them are youths and still fresh from higher institutions and they are performing wonderfully well. So, we believe that they will not disappoint us.
“The governor also approved funds for the training and induction of these new teachers, that is why we are here. And today being the final day, having gone to all the 10 zones to train and induct the teachers in various zones, we are here now at this closing programme, where these ones will be inducted.”
The governor performed the symbolic presentation of certificates of attendance to some of the inductees after the Permanent Secretary of TESCOM, Mrs. Grace Oderinde, administered the oath on the inductees.
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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