Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, on Monday doled out N70.5 million to outstanding teachers and administrators in the state in recognition of their impressive performance and contribution to advancing the quality of education in the State.
The Governor also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to providing modern facilities and other necessary resources that would enhance teachers’ performance in a highly dynamic and technology-driven environment, while improving their welfare and creating better conditions for effective teaching and learning.
At the event which had as its theme “Standing with Teachers: 60 years of Protecting the Profession, Advancing its Status and Shaping our Futures” had Mr Adedayo Adeniyi of SUBEB Model Basic School, Erio Ekiti and Mr Adeniyi Odunayo of Aramoko District Commercial Secondary School, Aramoko Ekiti received a whopping sum of N6 million each as the best in primary and secondary schools categories respectively.
Also 12 teachers got the sum of N2 million each as first runners up, 13 received the sum of N1 million each as second runners up, while 26 teachers were rewarded with N200,000 each as consolation prizes.
Presenting the cheques at the well-attended event held at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion, Ado Ekiti, Governor Oyebanji appreciated the teachers for their strong commitment to duty, patriotism, resilience and hard work in promoting education sector as well as their support for his administration.
While explaining that his administration has made significant investment in school infrastructure and technology, the Governor said that all the 203 public secondary schools in the state now have ICT laboratories and 125 have been equipped with interactive boards, 5KVA inverters and internet facilities, while old school building had been renovated and rehabilitate with perimeter fencing.
The Governor also said 48 public secondary schools have also been provided with CCTV cameras, with another 85 schools expected to receive the facility within the month.
Speaking further, the Governor said his administration had demonstrated commitment to addressing personnel gaps in the public education sector through the recruitment of over 9,000 teachers into primary and secondary schools within four years of his first term.
While congratulating the teachers on the occasion of the 2026 World Teachers’ Day, the Governor assured the teachers that he remains committed to protecting their dignity and prioritize their welfare, adding that they remained significant to the government’s development agenda.
The Governor said “ I want to sincerely appreciate our teachers for their unwavering support since the inception of our administration. Their commitment and dedication to duty had enhanced and improved teaching and learning outcomes. I want to thank the State Executives of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Association of Public School Head Teachers of Nigeria (APSHON), the leadership of the Coalition of Private School Owners and all our committed teachers for being reputable partners in progress.
“I must note that the theme, standing with Teachers: 60 years of Protecting the Profession, Advancing its Status and Shaping Our Futures resonates well with our transformative agenda in education sector and our unflinching commitment to enhancing teachers’ professional identity. We shall always provide the modern facilities that will enhance performance in this highly dynamic technology-driven world.
“As of today, all the 203 Public Secondary Schools have ICT laboratories, Interactive Boards, 5KVA inverter and internet facilities in 125 of them. Old school buildings were renovated/rehabilitated in all the schools and perimeter fencing was provided for 54 public secondary schools. Additionally, 48 Public Secondary Schools were provided with CCTV cameras and 85 more schools will have theirs this month”.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Commissioner for Education, Dr (Mrs) Olabimpe Aderiye, commended Governor Biodun Oyebanji for his commitment to the development of the education sector, saying the administration’s investment in the training and capacity development of teachers had made them digitally proficient and better equipped to meet the demands of 21st-century teaching.
The Commissioner said that in the four years of the Oyebanji administration, the state government had invested over 18 billion on education. According to her the government had spent N11.9 billion as counterpart funding for the provision of a conducive learning environment across the state. She added that N2.289 billion was spent on running grants, while N546.9 million was committed to feeding children in the three special schools in the state.
She further disclosed that government had expended N2.1 billion on the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), N955 million on placement and N125 million on NABTEB, among other investments, stressing that the figures reflected the administration’s sustained commitment to improving access, quality and standards in the state’s education sector.
Also in their separate remarks, the Chairman of NUT, Comrade Egbeyemi Lawrence, representative of ASSUS Chairman, Comr. Austine Adeola and the Coordinating Chairman of Coalition of private schools, Comr. Durojaiye Samson commended Governor Oyebanji for his continued attention to the education sector and his efforts to improve the working environment for teachers and other stakeholders.
Describing the Teachers’ Day as an important occasion for recognizing the dedication, sacrifice and contributions of teachers to the development of the society as well as their roles in shaping the future of the young generation and building a better society, the Chairmen called for continued collaboration among government, teachers and other stakeholders to sustain the progress recorded in the sector.
Also at the event were, the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, Secreatry to the State Government, Prof. Habibat Adubiaro, Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Folakemi Olomojobi, Chief of Staff, Mr Niyi Adebayo, members of the state Executive Council, among others.
