Makinde’s Giant Stride in the Education Sector | By Fasasi I.A

Education is central to development and a key to attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is one of the most powerful instruments to reduce poverty and inequality and lays a foundation for sustainable economic growth.

Research has proven that education is one of the most effective development investments in every state and nation. Adequate investments in education facilitate the achievement of most other development goals and increase the probability of sustaining growth.

adequate pedagogical resources for effective teaching; provision of adequate furniture for students and staff;supply of equipment for science and laboratories.

Others are monitoring standards of learning and teaching in the state schools through an effective team; ensuring judicious use of available resources to meet stakeholders’ expectations of the school system in the state; provision and use of information and communication technology (ICT) facilities in government schools (secondary and tertiary) to enhance teaching and learning. Examples are interactive boards, projectors, and computers.

All these developments in the Oyo state education sector have led to reduction in the number of out of school children by over 25 percent. The situation has also earned the state some awards which include; the first position in 2022 NNPC, National Science Quiz Competition; the best candidate in 2019,2020 National Examination Council (NECO);Best Candidate in 2021,2022 West African Secondary School Certificate Examination ; First position (Physics) and National Rep.at 52nd Internal Physics Olympiad in Switzerland;

Winning of the 2023 Presidential Teachers and School Excellence Award.

In 2021, LAUTECH came first in the ranking of Nigerian Universities becoming the best State University in the country, also,as the fourth-best overall university in Nigeria.

There is no doubt that Governor Makinde, has placed a high premium on the quality and standard of learning in schools across the state.

The Yoruba will say, ‘Oro po ninu iwe kobo’ (there are far too many words to encounter in a penny-worth newspaper!). There is much to reel out about the Makinde success story in the Education sector. Definitely, Makinde has already etched his name in the sands of time and would certainly be remembered forever in Oyo State.

*Fasasi Ismail is the Media Officer attached to the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, Oyo State Government*