Education
Stakeholders Laud New Oyo Education Policy
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Oyo State government has been commended by stakeholders in the education industry for its firm approach towards reclaiming the lost glory of the state education sector as well as improving its quality to meet new and higher performance targets saying that the new education policy was a positive step in the right direction.
The stakeholders, who were part of the guests at the Town Hall Meeting held at the International Conference Center, University of Ibadan on Thursday where the new education policy was launched by Governor Abiola Ajimobi, said that government’s resolution to create Schools Governing Boards (SGB) that will provide management functions for each secondary school in the state would revive the education sector.
Mr Ajimobi, while launching the new education policy, said his administration had resolved to rebuild the education sector to put a stop to poor academic performance by public school students, stressing that the condemnation against students arsonists should be collective as the burning and destruction of classrooms and school properties were acts that even parents should not condone.
He said that the newly introduced SGB in the State would serve as a bridge between the government and the community in the management of various public secondary schools in the state, stressing that the SGB would be managed by various stakeholders of each school which includes community leaders, old students associations, principals and head boys/girls of each school.
According to him, “It is shameful that Oyo State that hosts the first university in the country is performing woefully in public examinations but we should all join hands together to revamp our education sector. For us to get this work done, we should all come together and condemn the criminal tendencies in our students as they burned classrooms and destroyed public properties while protesting against the policy against mass promotion.”
“I appreciate the efforts and enthusiasm of everybody here and I am of no doubt that you are all willing to support Government in repositioning education among other sectors in the State. I have no doubt that our reposition, restoration and transformation programmes have been accepted by everybody. I assure you that we will be transparent and accountable in our programmes and activities. I assure you that we will also carry you along in our programmes,” the Governor pledged.
Mr Ajimobi called for an all-inclusive stakeholders support, stressing that the state government is open to support from other sources for the development of education in the state.
“Oyo State government is open to your support in the education sector. Let all old students within and outside the country join hands together to uplift their alma-mata, and if community leaders or a community wishes to contribute their quota to a school within their community, it is a welcome development. These are ways by which we can develop our education sector,” he said.
Governor Ajimobi assured his audience that the crisis at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso (LAUTECH) would soon be over as the fact finding panel set up by the governments of Osun and Oyo to resolve the imbroglio would submit its report before the end of month.
The SGB Model of Oyo State was hailed by many for its far-reaching inclusiveness which comprised of lead stakeholders like parents, teachers association, old students association representative, nonpartisan community leader, school’s head boy/girl, principal, Local inspector of education and representative of local government or Local Community Development Area (LCDA) and the believe that the control of schools would not rest only on government but also on the parents and society at large.
The Onpetu of Ijeru, Oba Sunday Adediran, commended the efforts of Oyo State government in finding solutions to what he called the fall in standard of education in the State, describing the State governor as a good leader that always proffered uncommon solutions for the growth of education and overall progress of the State.
“A good parent will not sit aside and watch things deteriorate and it is worthy to appreciate the Oyo State governor who, like a good parent, has put in strategic solutions to counter the present deteriorated state of education in the State. Education growth is tantamount to growth in every other sector of the society as it is a propeller that helps move the society at large to the promised land,” the Onpetu who spoke on behalf of other traditional rulers added.
In his own comments, the President-General of Nigerian Football Supporters Club, Chief Rafiu Oladipo, said that he was a 1967 product of Oke ‘Badan High School, noting that the alumni of the school did not wait for government alone to improve the structures in the school as the body (Oke Badan Alumni) had revamped the infrastructural facilities in the school.
The State Chairman, Parents, Teachers Association (PTA), Alhaji Abiodun Jimoh described the state government’s steps at restructuring the education sector as laudable and consequently pledged their support for the success of the new education policy.
Speaking, the Secretary of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Comrade Niyi Akano said that the teachers’ union was particularly happy when the State government gazetted the School Governing Board Model as the body (NUT) had been part of the program’s initiation, calling on the government to increase the level of in-service training for teachers towards capacity improvement and due process in recruitment to ensure quality.
A stakeholder, Mr Bayo Fasasi gave a thumb up for the government’s resolve to confront the rot in the education sector, urging parents to supports the government’s efforts to turn around education in the state.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has released the results of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates, with 61.54 per cent of candidates obtaining credits in at least five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.
The Head of WAEC’s Nigeria National Office, Mr Amos Dangut, announced the results at a press briefing in Lagos on Wednesday.
Mr Dangut said 1,200,514 candidates met the benchmark for admission to higher institutions, out of the 1,950,726 candidates who sat the examination nationwide, held between April 24 and June 19.
He said 102,708 examiners were engaged in the marking exercise held at 88 marking venues across the country between 2 July and 20 July.
“Today, I am happy to inform you that all the processes leading to the release of results have been completed. It is now my pleasure to announce the release of the results of candidates who sat the WASSCE for School Candidates, 2026 in Nigeria,” he said, directing candidates to the agency’s portal to access their results.
“UPDATE: 2026 WASSCE (SC) results have been released. Generate your PIN at waec.org and check your results now on waecdirect.org,” the examination body said, noting that candidates must obtain their Serial Number and PIN before they can check their results.
To generate the required credentials, candidates are expected to visit WAEC’s official website and select the “Serial Number and PIN” option at the top of the page.
They are then required to select the appropriate examination year and diet, enter their examination number and National Identification Number (NIN), and ensure that the NIN provided is the same one used during registration for the examination.
Candidates must also provide their email address and phone number to receive a One-Time Password (OTP).
After entering the OTP, candidates can recover their Serial Number and PIN, which they can subsequently use to check their results through WAEC Direct.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Over 200 senior students of Cleggs Girls High School, Surulere, Lagos, were on July 23, 2026, engaged in practical knowledge about the risks associated with smoking, vaping, and shisha.
This engagement was made possible through a collaboration between Breathe Life Foundation and Teach Nigeria Fellow.
Participants were students aged 15–19 years. They were also informed about the misconception that shisha is a safer alternative to cigarettes or other substances.
Through an engaging and interactive discussion, students explored the influence of peer pressure and learned practical strategies for making healthier, more informed lifestyle choices.
They also gained a better understanding of common environmental triggers of asthma and other respiratory conditions, including cigarette smoke, generator fumes, bush burning, mosquito coil smoke, candles, charcoal, and firewood.
The session highlighted an important reality: young people may not always recognise how seemingly routine lifestyle choices and environmental exposures can gradually affect their respiratory health, quality of life, and long-term wellbeing.
For Breathe Life Foundation, this reinforces the importance of shifting the conversation from treatment to prevention through awareness and education.
By equipping young people with the knowledge to identify risks and make healthier choices early, the foundation is helping to build a generation that is more conscious of – and better prepared to protect – its respiratory health.
The organisation said it is dedicated to advancing respiratory health, an often-neglected public health priority. Healthy lungs are essential to life, yet respiratory diseases remain among the world’s leading causes of death and disability, even though many are preventable and treatable.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) schemes, the Obajana Plant of Dangote Cement Plc has distributed some educational materials to some pupils in Kogi State.
The items shared to the beneficiaries included school bags, exercise books, writing materials, water bottles, and other essential learning aids aimed at enhancing the learning experience of the pupils and preparing them for the next academic session.
The General Manager for the Social Performance Department of Dangote Cement at Obajana Plant, Mr Ademola Adeyemi, said the materials were donated days after Dangote Cement distributed similar education materials to pupils in public schools in its catchment communities of Oyo, Iwaa, Obajana and Apata; and commissioned a multi-million-naira hospital in Obajana, which added to the growing list of social investments that includes an earlier hospital project in Iwaa and Oyo Communities.
He noted that, over the years, the company has invested billions of naira in a wide range of social programmes for host communities, including empowerment programmes, road construction, and potable water projects, and it remains resolute in its commitment to sustaining and expanding its interventions.
He noted that the company’s corporate social responsibility programmes are aligned with government development priorities and are implemented through sustained, mutually beneficial partnerships.
“The intervention was informed by findings from a needs assessment conducted by Dangote Cement. During the assessment, it was observed that several pupils attended school without school bags, while others carried their books by hand. It was also discovered that many students lacked essential learning materials such as exercise books, pens, pencils, and other basic learning materials,” the cement firm said.
The Head Teacher of UBE LGEA School, St. Luke Model II, Adankolo, Lokoja Local Government Area, Mr Abubakar Sanni, expressed profound appreciation to the management of Dangote Cement for the gesture.
The Head Teacher expressed gratitude to the Group President of the conglomerate, Aliko Dangote, for extending the company’s educational support programme beyond its host and impacted communities to schools located at the state headquarters.
The beneficiaries, school management, parents, and community stakeholders expressed gratitude to Dangote Cement for the timely intervention and prayed for the continued growth and success of the company in its efforts to improve lives and support sustainable community development.
