BOTAVED Records Landmark Achievements Under Governor Seyi Makinde’s Administration

The Oyo State Board for Technical and Vocational Education (BOTAVED) has witnessed a remarkable transformation over the past year, thanks to the unwavering support and visionary leadership of His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde.

After over a decade of dormancy, the board has been revived with fresh purpose and energy, making significant strides in repositioning technical and vocational education in the state.

Established by law on March 15, 2001, BOTAVED functions under the Ministry of Education. It had suffered 11 years of neglect until Governor Makinde appointed Hon. Ayoade Adekola, an accomplished educationist, as the Executive Chairman on May 18, 2024. Since then, the board has recorded a series of notable achievements that reaffirm the governor’s commitment to educational reform and youth empowerment in Oyo State.

Key Achievements in the Past Year Include:

1. Infrastructure Development:
Governor Makinde approved the remodeling and construction of facilities at Government Technical Colleges (GTCs) in Saki and Ibadan. The remaining colleges in Oyo, Ogbomoso, and Iseyin are slated for similar upgrades. This initiative is aimed at enhancing the quality of technical education and providing young people with employable skills.

2. Digitalized Admissions:
A Computer-Based Test (CBT) entrance examination was successfully conducted on September 26, 2024, for admission into all five GTCs. This marks a significant move toward standardization and transparency in technical education.

3. Routine Monitoring and Evaluation:
The BOTAVED leadership has conducted extensive monitoring of the colleges to assess needs and ensure standards are maintained. End-of-term performance meetings with school principals now ensure greater accountability.

4. Financial Oversight and Transparency:
Principals now have access to long-term grants with strict monitoring of expenditure, promoting fiscal responsibility.

5. Enhanced Communication Systems:
A reliable internal communication network was established to connect BOTAVED headquarters with its various outstations and staff, ensuring swift information flow and operational efficiency.

6. Stakeholder Engagement:
The board held successful meetings with proprietors of private vocational centers and NATESVOSPON, fostering collaboration across public and private sectors.

7. Staff Welfare and Capacity Building:
Over 140 staff members have benefited from reforms in appointments, transfers, and promotions. Additionally, 15 technical instructors received advanced training under the IDEAS project facilitated by the Federal Ministry of Education in collaboration with the University of Ibadan.

8. Facility Maintenance and Upgrades:
Technical colleges have undergone various practical maintenance works, including landscaping, facility repair, and learning aid enhancements.

9. Promotion of Modern Curriculum:
BOTAVED has introduced new courses in animation, coding, web design, and fashion/garment making to meet current socio-economic demands.

10. Expansion of Skills Acquisition Centers:
New centers have been established in at least ten Local Government Areas, including Ibadan North, Ona-Ara, Oyo-West, and Akinyele LGAs, providing more avenues for skills development at the grassroots level.

11. Promotion Exercise for Staff:
The 2023/2024 promotional interviews for eligible staff were successfully conducted between March 24 and April 10, 2025, by the Civil Service Commission.

As BOTAVED looks to the future, its leadership remains committed to realizing the board’s mission—to produce skilled, self-reliant, and employable youth in line with global standards. Plans are underway to establish operational production units in all technical colleges, a hallmark of functional technical education globally.

The people of Oyo State, particularly stakeholders in the education sector, extend profound appreciation to Governor Seyi Makinde for his foresight, support, and dedication to restoring technical and vocational education as a cornerstone of sustainable development. His legacy in this regard continues to shape a brighter, more productive future for the youth of Oyo State.

ELDER AYOADE ADEKOLA
Chairman, Board for Technical and Vocational Education (BOTAVED)