The Oyo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the education sector through strategic partnerships with old students’ associations aimed at boosting academic performance and enhancing school infrastructure.

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Olusegun Olayiwola, made this known while receiving the executive members of the Ibadan Grammar School Old Students Association in his office.

He commended the alumni for their numerous developmental projects in the school and pledged the Government’s unwavering support to sustain and raise the standard of education across the State.

Olayiwola disclosed that over 14,000 teachers were recruited last year, with an additional 500 teachers set to be employed by TESCOM in the coming academic term. He urged parents, alumni associations, and stakeholders to collaborate with Government in creating a more conducive learning environment, while also rewarding outstanding students through scholarships and awards.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Ibadan branch of the association, Prof. Siji Adeogun, applauded the State Government’s efforts at improving education and praised the Commissioner for his cordial relationship and continuous support.

Prof. Adeogun highlighted several projects executed by the association, including the establishment of modern laboratories for Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Geography, Agriculture, Fine Arts, and Basic Science. Others include a fully equipped technical drawing room, sick bay, buttery, standard tennis court, indoor badminton court, potable water supply, hostel facilities, and ongoing perimeter fencing for improved security.

He assured the Government of the association’s sustained commitment to supporting the school’s growth and fostering a legacy of excellence in education.

Omotoso Olukemi

Press Officer,

Ministry of Education, Science and Technology

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has presented an Award of Honour to the Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Olusegun Olayiwola, in recognition of his role in fostering harmony between Government, school management, and students across the State.

The award was presented during a courtesy visit by the executive members of the association to the Ministry’s conference room. The students commended the Commissioner for his contributions to educational development and for sustaining peaceful relations within the academic community.

Receiving the delegation, Hon. Olayiwola reaffirmed the State Government’s commitment to partner with NANS in tackling cultism, drug abuse, and other vices in primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions. He stressed that Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration has continued to invest heavily in education to promote both academic excellence and sound character formation.

Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Student Affairs, Hon. Victor Olojede, described NANS as an active bridge between the student body and the Government in preventing unnecessary protests. He emphasized that peaceful and sustainable educational progress could only be achieved through stronger collaboration among school authorities, the academic community, local governments, and security agencies.

In his remarks, the NANS Oyo State Chairman, Comrade Tiamiyu Taiwo Ademola, commended the State Government for prioritizing students’ welfare and involving them in governance.

He explained that the association represents students across all levels, primary, secondary, and tertiary and would intensify campaigns against drug abuse in secondary schools from the next academic session.

Comrade Tiamiyu further appealed to the Government to address security concerns, improve accommodation in some tertiary institutions, and provide better logistics support for the association’s activities.

Present at the meeting were the Honorable Commissioner for Education Science and Technology, Hon. Olusegun Olayiwola, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Bamidele Oyinloye; Special Adviser to the Governor on Education Intervention, Oloye Suraj Abiodun Tiamiyu; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Student Affairs, Hon. Victor Olojede; and Director of Higher and Continuing Education, Mr. Oluwole Adewale.

Omotoso Olukemi

Press officer,

Min of Education Science and Technology

The Oyo State Government, has set up a Staff Audit and verification committee for the Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa.

The verification exercise  reaffirms the Government’s transparency, accountability and excellence.

While inaugurating the Committee at the Scholarship Board Conference Room of the Ministry, Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Olusegun Olayiwola, described the move as a milestone in the Governor Makinde led administration drive to build a more efficient, transparent and future-ready Polytechnic system.

He emphasized that the Polytechnic’s strength lies not only in academic quality but also in the integrity and effectiveness of its workforce.

He explained that the committee is tasked with  verifying staff records, identifying gaps and redundancies.

Also, the committee will recommend policies to improve efficiency, while maintaining professionalism, impartiality and confidentiality.

Hon. Olayiwola, therefore pledged the Ministry’s support for the success of the exercise, expressing hope that the exercise would provide reliable data to guide the institution’s future.

In her welcome address, the  Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Bamidele Oyinloye commended the management of the institution for past cooperation and called for stronger collaboration to move higher education in the State forward.

In his contribution, the  Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof. Kazeem Adebiyi, explained that the committee was formed following requests from the polytechnic’s union members, stressing the need to strengthen operations for better results.

The committee is chaired by Prof. Sarafadeen Kareem, with Dr. Ibrahim Rasheed as Secretary, alongside members drawn from other institutions, the Ministry of Education, and stakeholders from the polytechnic’s union.

E-signed:

Prince Dotun Oyelade,

Commissioner for Information and Orientation,

Oyo State.

The Honourable Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Olusegun Olayiwola, has reiterated the ban on mobile phones in schools, particularly in examination halls, warning that violators will face strict consequences.

He made this known today while addressing education stakeholders including Permanent Secretaries, Inspectors General of Education (PS/IGEs), and Heads of Departments during a meeting held at the Ministry’s conference room.

Hon. Olayiwola emphasized the importance of discipline and integrity in the conduct of examinations, noting that an official circular already prohibits students from bringing mobile phones into school premises and examination venues. He urged school authorities to enforce this directive without exception.

He further stressed that the use of smartwatches, meta eyeglasses, and other devices that could facilitate examination malpractice is also strictly prohibited.

The Commissioner called on teachers, parents, and guardians to monitor their wards closely and ensure compliance with these directives.

“We must all work together to uphold the integrity of our education system and maintain discipline across our schools,” he stated.

Omotoso Olukemi
Press Officer
Ministry of Education, Science and Technology

The Oyo State Government has announced scheduled dates for the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and Common Entrance examination across the State.

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Olayiwola Olusegun in a statement on Saturday, informed the general public, especially parents, guardians and students in Junior Secondary Schools throughout the State, that the Ministry will conduct BECE between Monday 7″ July and Wednesday 16″ July, 2025.

He added that the examination will commence by 9.30 am daily at the respective schools of the candidates.

Meanwhile, the 2025 Screening/Placement Exercise, also known as Common Entrance Examination into Junior Secondary Schools, will come up on Thursday, 17 July 2025.

According to him, the exercise will commence by 7.00 am at the designated screening centers for Screening/Placement Exercise.

He enjoined students to go to designated examination centres with their writing materials.

The Commissioner therefore directed principals to make proper and adequate arrangements for the monitoring of the examination throughout the period.

His words: “Ministry officials and members of the Oyo State Examination Ethics committee will be moving round to monitor the exercise and ensure that the integrity of the examination is not compromised.”

“The students and pupils are enjoined in their own interest to avoid all forms of examination malpractices and members of the public are strictly warned against loitering at these schools and designated screening centres”.

He stressed that the entrance examination is for the eligible candidates only.

E-signed:

Prince Dotun Oyelade,
Commissioner for Information and Orientation.

The Oyo State Government has urged Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), stakeholders, and philanthropists to support vulnerable and underprivileged students in public schools, emphasizing that the Government cannot shoulder the responsibility alone.

The Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Salihu Adelabu, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Zone II, Miss Yemi Ojo, made this appeal during the presentation of school packs by Karma Agric Feeds to pupils of St. Andrews Basic School, Ara Oje, in Oluyole Local Government Area. The event took place at the school’s football field.

Prof. Adelabu highlighted the government’s recent recruitment of teachers for both primary and secondary schools under Governor Seyi Makinde’s leadership, aimed at enhancing educational standards and securing a better future for young learners.

He commended Karma Agric Feeds for their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative and urged other well-meaning individuals and organizations to collaborate with the Government to invest in the education sector.

Speaking at the event, the CEO of Karma Agric Feeds, Dr. Shashikant Teletumade, expressed his company’s commitment to giving back to society by supporting schoolchildren. He appreciated the State Government for fostering a business-friendly environment and assured continued contributions to community development.

The donation included school bags, sandals, notebooks, and uniforms for over 120 pupils, bringing smiles to their faces and easing the burden on their families.

Omotoso Olukemi

Press Officer

Min. Of Education.

…as  Education Commissioner  tasks them on new roles

Oyo State Government through the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, on Thursday, trained all education officers across the State on various skills needed to further improve the standard of education in public Schools.

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Salihu Adelabu, while declaring  a day capacity building programme for Education officers open at Oladipo Alayande School of Science (School Hall), Oke- Bola, Ibadan, charged Education Officers to always learn and acquire new skills that would enable improved productivity in the discharge of their duties.

Adelabu said further at the capacity building themed  “Equipping  Education Officers with New Skills for Better Service Delivery” that  time is pricier than money and education officers are to spend their time on learning and relearning to ensure they reach the peak of their careers.

The commissioner also stressed the need to continue organizing capacity-building workshops to equip officers with skills needed to perform their roles.

The capacity building centered on Professional Ethics, Duties and Responsibilities, Civil service rules and Financial Regulations.

In their separate remarks, the PS/IG, Kajola Local Government, Engr Adebayo Salam and PS/IG Ibarapa zone, Mrs B. T, Oyinloye called on Education officers to maintain high standards and continue adding values to the education sector while performing their roles”

The duo admonished them to apply the knowledge acquired from the training to their teaching activities.

Education officers present at the training thanked the Oyo State Government and the ministry of education for the initiative, saying that the capacity building would enhance their productivity in terms of teaching and learning.

E-signed

Media Team of MoES&T,

… defeats Security Sector 1 against 0

The Oyo State Education Sector on Tuesday defeated the Security Sector to emerge champions of the 2024 Oyo State Inter- Sectorial Football Competition.

The Education Sector team, comprising teachers and officials from the State’s education ministry and educational sector, won the match by a lone goal.

Jimoh Mutairu scored the goal in the second half of the final match played at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan.

The match, which was organized to foster camaraderie and teamwork among different sectors of the State Government, was witnessed by top officials from both the education and security sectors.

Shortly before presenting the trophy to the winning team, Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde admonished all civil servants in the State to prioritize physical fitness as part of efforts to boost their overall well-being and make them more productive .

He harped on the importance of exercise in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, adding that physical fitness improves individual health and enhances workplace performance.

He commended the organizers of the match and all participants at the event, adding that the present administration had invested immensely in sporting facilities and activities in the State.

According to him, “We want to encourage our civil servants to integrate physical activity into their daily lifestyles. When you exercise your body, and you’re physically fit, it can also enhance your heartbeat and productivity at the workplace.”

“Through initiatives like the Civil Service Games, we hope to create a more vibrant and motivated civil service that will contribute significantly to the development of Oyo State,”

The victory was celebrated by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Salihu Adelabi and the entire education sector in the State.
According to the commissioner,
“This victory is a testament to the teamwork and dedication of our team,”

“It is a clear demonstration of the fact that we’re not only concerned about the cognitive domain of learning, but also the psychomotor and affective domains as well”.

.. pledges not to witch-hunt any Staff

In its efforts to ensure an up-to-date record of the staff of the  Polytechnic, Ibadan,  the Oyo State Government on Tuesday set up a 12- man committee to carry out a comprehensive staff audit of the Institution.

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Salihu Adelabu, while inaugurating  the committee chaired by Dr. Bisi Ojebola at the Board of Studies Chamber (BOS), of the Polytechnic Ibadan, stated that the staff audit exercise is not meant to witch-hunt any staff.

He assured the entire workforce of this institution that the audit will strengthen the capacity of the State Government to satisfy the needs of the staff.

He explained that the staff audit became inevitable to enable the Government to have accurate statistics of all authentic and genuinely employed staff of the institution for adequate provision.

He maintained that the committee is given just two weeks to submit its  report, urging the committee to be diligent in discharging the assignment given to them.

“Staff Audit in any institution is supposed to be annual rituals because staff are recruited, there is bound to retirement development on yearly basis, some go on retirement, some that are late, some are on voluntary resignation, this exercise is meant to take accurate data as at 2024 about those that are in the system and those that have left the system.

Also, the Government of the State works with logic, science and accurate data. It is when you have accurate data that you will be able to plan very well.

The exercise is not to witch-hunt anybody but to get accurate data and forge ahead.

I want the committee members to be diligent in discharging their duties. The task may be too sensitive in recording management, and they have only two weeks to do the assignment.

Earlier, the Chairman of the committee, Dr. Bisi Ojebola, said the committee will do the work given to them diligently with the fair of God.

He stated further that the committee is meant to assist the staff and not to do any harm to the  staff of the institution.

In his remarks, the Acting Rector of the Institution, Dr. Taiwo Lasis, said the staff audit of the institution is long overdue.

He said the audit will enable the institution to know the area of its strengths and weaknesses.

He allayed the fears of the workers that the exercise is not to witch hunt any staff but to assist the institution to  further achieve its goals.

E-Signed

Media Team of MoES&T

… trains 58 Teachers on Soiless/Hydroponic Farming

In its bid to resuscitate farming in public schools, the Oyo State Government through the ministry of Education, Science and Technology has trained fifty Eight

pre—vocational studies teachers on soiless/hydroponic farming on skill acquisition.

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Salihu Adelabu, while speaking at a day training of trainers (ToT) Workshop, held at Wesley College of Science, Elekuro, Ibadan, said that the training will enable the teachers to instill entrepreneur skills in the area of agriculture to their students to become agropreneurs.

He explained that the Fifty -Eight trained  Teachers will be the ones to  train other Agricultural Science Teachers across the thirty-three local government areas of Oyo State.

He said: The essence of this training is that we are going back to the farm.

“We are resuscitating the school farming, and we want to catch the children so young. And we are coming up with a hydroponic farming this time around in all our secondary schools. “What do I mean by hydroponic farming, It’s a soiless farming,

if you see what is going on in the area of agricultural development worldwide, nobody is going to the thick bush farming again, what they do, they do their farming activities in the greenhouse, where  water conservation is regulated, temperature is regulated, the pest, and the weed control is properly managed.

“And this often increases the yield, so,we are now bringing  selected teachers across the thirty-three-local governments in Oyo State to train them and to go back to train others and encourage them to go back to the farm in our secondary schools. So, that’s the essence.

“What we intend to achieve is to make all our students agropreneurs, We want them to develop entrepreneurial skills in the area of agriculture. And many of them can eventually become millionaires.

“They are not going to graduate and begin to seek for jobs. They can now as well be recruiting people. They will plant very big, but they can start very small, with little money such as  #5,000, #10,000, #20,000. These children can start after graduation, even while in the school, some of them can start  practicing Hydroponic farming, and all these skills involved, this is what we want the teacher to start putting these children through before they finish their NECO or WAEC Examination.

In her remarks, the Director of Basic Education in the Ministry, Mrs. Olabode Abosede, called on agricultural science teachers in public schools to endeavor to introduce their students to practical aspects of the subject in due course to get the desired result.

She explained that the good thing about school farming in which the Government is bringing back on board is the introduction of soiless farming, which she described as a modern way of farming.

She encouraged teachers of agricultural science in various schools to embrace the initiative, particularly schools with limited farm land.

Mrs. Abosede  lauded the teachers for their commitment to the training, noting that the ministry would put in place a monitoring team for a periodic  visit to the schools and Project evaluation.

*E-signed

Media Team of MoES&T,