ABUJA/Nigeria: In a remarkable celebration of World Teachers’ Day, three educators from Oyo State emerged as victors in distinct categories of the prestigious 2023 Presidential Teachers and School Excellence Award.
The announcement came to light during a grand ceremony held at Eagle’s Square in Abuja, where education luminaries and officials gathered to honor teachers’ invaluable contributions to society.
The Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Salihu Abdulwaheed Adelabu, delivered the exciting news, emphasizing the significance of the Oyo State awardees’ achievements on the national stage. These outstanding educators were selected from a pool of exceptional talent hailing from various public and private primary and secondary institutions across the nation.
Representing Prof. Abdulwaheed Adelabu at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Adeniyi Olusanjo, presided over the proceedings, held at NUT Model College in Ibadan, as part of the 2023 World Teachers’ Day celebrations.
The Oyo State honorees who shone brightly in their respective roles are Mr. Babarinlo Samson Oluwaseun, Head Teacher of Methodist Basic School in Iseyin; Mr. Amoo Joseph, Principal of Government College in Ibadan; and Barrister Odejayi Olatunde Adedamilola, Proprietor of Second Home College in Olodo, Ibadan.
Highlighting the occasion, Prof. Adelabu underscored Oyo State’s commitment to educational reform. He stressed the government’s dedication to enhancing the teaching profession by recruiting more teachers into the primary sector, ensuring timely salary payments, and fostering conducive working conditions. Prof. Adelabu declared, “Efforts are ongoing to recruit teachers at the primary school level. This has gone a long way in addressing the issue of out-of-school children, thereby ranking the State as one of the best in the Nation.”
The Commissioner extended his appreciation to all teachers and the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Oyo State Wing, for their unwavering support to the current administration. He emphasized that the state had successfully eradicated the issues of teacher shortages through improved salaries, better working conditions, and reduced student-teacher ratios.
Furthermore, Prof. Adelabu called upon teachers to reciprocate the government’s goodwill by delivering exemplary service to the state’s education sector.
Pastor Akinade Alamu, Chairman of the Oyo State Teaching Service Commission, praised Governor Seyi Makinde for making the teaching profession appealing in the state. He highlighted the government’s efforts in creating an enabling environment for educators, acknowledging that challenges still exist but that the state is resolute in improving teachers’ lives.
Comrade Raji Oladimeji, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, expressed gratitude for the Oyo State Government’s commitment to the teaching profession. He commended the government for timely salary payments, clearing of deductions backlog, and increased car loans for teachers.
The event featured the presentation of awards to the Chairman of the occasion, Engr. Dotun Sanusi, and a spirited march-past by teachers from various zones in Oyo State. Notable attendees included stakeholders from the education sector, including Mrs. Olaide Ladipo, Ag. Executive Secretary of Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, education secretaries, past NUT chairpersons, and permanent secretaries/tutor generals from the Ministry of Education, among others.
World Teachers’ Day, commemorated since 1994, centers on the anniversary of the signing of the 1966 International Labour Organisation/United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (ILO/UNESCO) recommendation concerning the status of teachers. In 2023, the theme “The teachers we need for the education we want: The global imperative to reverse the teacher shortage” underscored the crucial role of educators in shaping the world’s future.
