Education
Why Makinde must retain Oyo SGBs policy for education’s sustainable development – Olowofela
SEQUEL to the recent declaration of Engr. Seyi Makinde as the Oyo state governor -elect, the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela has observed the need for the incoming government to sustain the School Governing Boards (SGBs) policy for the sustainable development of education in the state.
The Commissioner who made this observation on Wednesday at the commissioning of an ultra – modern science laboratory; a project donated by Prof. Kolawole Adebayo to Oke’badan High School noted that the importance of the provision of adequate facilities in schools cannot be over -emphasized, stressing that the donation of this ultra modern science laboratory will go a long way in adding values, in enhancing the quality of teaching, learning as well as serving as an opening to improving the school in all ramifications.
According to Prof. Olowofela, qualitative education through the provision of the required and adequate teaching and learning facilities has been a great concern to the Abiola Ajimobi led administration, thus, the government lent out her hands of partnership through the School Governing Boards policy (SGBs) by inviting stakeholders comprising of the Parents Forum, the Old Students, Philanthropists among others to contribute their quotas to the development of education sector in the state.
He emphasised further that the state government has been advocating that the responsibility of education lies on all and sundry and “all of us must give back to the system that has produced us”.
“The SGBs policy is a magic wand in the sense that there is really no week in which we have not been invited to come and commission one project or the other for the government.
“Also, the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, (DAWN) Commission has adopted School Governing Boards (SGBs) educational policy by Oyo state government towards enhancing educational development in the South West region.
“In fact, if we sustain this policy, I know that in the next 5 years, the public schools in the state would have changed remarkably. Why we are emphasising this is that our own government is on its way out, but this is a policy that must be sustained so that Oyo state can enjoy rapid infrastructural development and contents delivery in our schools”, Olowofela declared.
While appreciating donors’ previous contributions toward the development of education in the state, the Commissioner specifically lauded Prof. Adebayo for the rare disposition displayed by him in donating “this ultra -modern science laboratory for the use of the current students of the school and for the use of generation of students who are yet unborn “.
He, however implored the teachers to put the facility to optimal use for the benefits of the young ones and ensure that it is well kept and properly maintained.
Also speaking at the event, the donor, Professor Kolawole Adebayo while giving reason for his decision narrated: ” Today, we are giving facilities that you (students) are going to use with the expectation that in future you would also come back and give back to the school.
“My motivation is simple. The only reason I changed to Oke’ Badan High School was that I wanted to study science and at that time the laboratory was not ready in my former school. So, I discussed with my parent that I can’t be a science student if my school does not have a laboratory. My school was in Ijebu and wanted to come to Ibadan because I wanted to study science and I was brought here as a pupil in 1981.
” I was sad therefore, when 3 years ago we had our meeting at Justice Shoremi’s house in Abeokuta and I was told that the laboratory is not functioning. I was sad because that was the reason I came to Ibadan. Then, I have to contribute my widow’s mite.
Appreciating the old students association of the school, Prof. Adebayo also tasked others to contribute their own quota to the development of their alma mater.
Having realized that no government can shoulder the responsibilities of education alone, Governor Abiola Ajimobi had earlier inaugurated the School Governing Boards, (SGBs) in all the 628 Public Secondary Schools in Oyo state.
Interestingly, the Board aims at restoring, transforming and repositioning the education sector has enjoyed the commitment and cooperation of Principals, teachers, old students, parents, philanthropists among others.
The Ogun State Government has inaugurated a multi-sectoral Safe Schools Steering Committee as part of renewed efforts to strengthen security architecture across schools in the state amid rising concerns over the safety of pupils, students, and teachers.
The committee is expected to drive the formulation and implementation of policies, strategies, and intervention programmes aimed at preventing security breaches, enhancing emergency preparedness, and ensuring that schools remain safe, stable, and conducive for learning.
Inaugurating the committee in Abeokuta, the state capital, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, described the initiative as a deliberate and strategic response to emerging security challenges in the education sector.
He said the composition of the committee reflected a careful selection of professionals drawn from relevant sectors, based on competence, experience, and institutional responsibility.
According to him, the government recognises that schools can no longer be treated as isolated institutions, but must be protected through coordinated action involving government agencies, security operatives, communities, and development partners.
“The inauguration of the Ogun State Safe Schools Steering Committee is a strategic response aimed at strengthening collaboration among government agencies, security services, communities, development partners and all stakeholders in the education sector,” Arigbabu said.
He stressed that the task before the committee was urgent and non-negotiable, warning that the future of children in the state depended on the quality and timeliness of their decisions.
“As members of this committee, your selection was based on expertise, experience, and institutional responsibilities. This task is both important and urgent. The future of our children depends on the effectiveness of the decisions and actions we take today,” he said.
Arigbabu urged members to discharge their duties with “dedication, professionalism, integrity and a strong sense of purpose,” adding that every school in Ogun State must remain a place of safety, hope, and opportunity rather than fear.
“I therefore charge you to approach this assignment with dedication, professionalism, integrity, and a strong sense of purpose. Let us work together to ensure that every school in Ogun State remains a place of safety, learning, hope, and opportunity,” he added.
Other stakeholders at the inauguration reinforced the need for collective responsibility, stressing that school safety cannot rest on government alone but requires sustained collaboration from all segments of society.
They noted that communities, parents, security agencies, and development partners must work in synergy to safeguard learning environments and protect the future of children.
“As we inaugurate this committee today, let us recognise that school safety is not the responsibility of government alone. It is a shared responsibility requiring partnership, vigilance, innovation, and collective action,” one of the stakeholders said.
“The decisions we take and the commitment we make here today will contribute significantly to shaping the future of thousands of learners across our state,” the stakeholder added.
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.
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