A diaspora based pharmacist, local mobilizer and staunch supporter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Pharmacist Adedayo Oluwasanmi has lauded the Ekiti State Governor Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, for his administration’s sweeping reforms and development initiatives in the education sector, describing them as impactful and monumental toward restoring the glory of education in the state.
The Ode Ekiti born Stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC)and founder of the Adedayo Oluwasanmi foundation, a Non Government Organization renowned for its annual scholarship awards for students across primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in the state, in a press release, signed and made available to journalists, in Ado Ekiti, applauded the comprehensive and inclusive approach adopted by the current administration in enhancing both infrastructure and academic quality across schools noting that the ongoing reforms have started yielding visible results and gradually restoring the state’s legacy of academic excellence
He specifically commended the over ₦14 billion investment through the Adolescent Girls’ Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), which has led to the renovation and construction of 203 public secondary schools across Ekiti thereby improving the learning environment, especially for girls.
Highlighting other areas of intervention, Oluwasanmi who had for the past ten years contributed immensely to the educational development particularly, primary and secondary schools in Ekiti South, lauded the recruitment of over 2,000 teachers , two years into the administration, a move he said has bridged the gap in the student-teacher ratio and provided employment to qualified individuals in the state. He acknowledged the governor’s recent approval for the recruitment of additional teaching and non-teaching staff.
Oluwasanmi who quarterly distributes education materials to schools and assisting senior school students and school leavers at making excellence in their WAEC and JAMB examinations through his NGO (AOF) special tutor program, cited the payment of over ₦1.2 billion as examination fees for more than 150,000 students and the disbursement of ₦700 million as running grants to public schools for the 2023/2024 academic session as a testament to the government’s commitment to making education accessible and affordable.
According to the pharmacist, the ₦174 million commitment on instructional materials and distribution of digital teaching tools to 42 schools, including 2,600 computers, 60 interactive boards, and 100 solar inverters, are forward-thinking strategies that positions Ekiti schools for 21st-century learning.
Oluwasanmi applauded the administration for the proposed introduction of subjects on Ekiti Values Education (EVE), Artificial intelligence and robotics into the curricula of both primary and secondary schools in the state saying that they are transformation steps aimed at instilling moral values, civic responsibility, and technology leadership traits in students from a young age. He said that these initiatives are making Ekiti descendants both home and in diaspora very proud of having a government which truly understands the peculiarities of the people.
According to him, it was important to support a government that has assisted the workforce through car and housing loan schemes, the elevation of graduate teachers to Grade Level 16, and the training of over 1,700 educators, stressing that these initiatives would boost morale and improve productivity.
He also emphasized the government’s commitment to inclusive education, particularly the provision of therapy rooms and the appointment of a Special Adviser on Special Education and Social Inclusion, Princess Adetoun Agboola which he said has improved learning outcomes for children with special needs.
Oluwasanmi mentioned the disbursement of over ₦150 million in scholarships and ₦100 million in bursaries to undergraduate and postgraduate students, noting that it has reduced financial burdens on indigent students, citing the conditional cash transfer program, which benefited parents of 2,808 indigent students, and the Safe Space sessions provided to over 10,000 students across 101 schools.
“This administration really made advocacy effort easy for the education focused NGOs in the state. One of the issues before was how to address the rate of out-of-school children, particularly the caused by teenage pregnancy, He came up with the Second Chance Education Scheme, which offers teenage mothers and school dropouts an opportunity to continue their education. 20 centers have already commenced teaching under the scheme since September 2024.”
“When you review the government’s foresight in upgrading and rehabilitation of technical schools, which now serve as breeding grounds for skilled professionals, the establishment of the Ekiti State Digital Skill Academy and the distribution of laptops to 100 youths, you will agree that this administration is very strategic in preparing students for a digital economy and reducing unemployment among young people.”
“It is only a visionary government that will think of introducing modern agricultural techniques across 120 school farms, a step towards equipping students with practical skills and encouraging agribusiness ventures among youths. It is no longer the usual stories of delay in the payment of outstanding subventions to EKSU, EKSUTH, and BOUESTI, should we also not mention the community service rendered by the First Lady, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, who teaches at EKSU probono, these are models of inspirations, humility and mentorship for students across the state.” He stated.
He also commended the introduction of a free mass transit scheme for secondary school students, which he said has drastically reduced truancy and ensured that pupils, especially from poor backgrounds, can attend school without transportation challenges as well as the engagement of over 400 school security guards for improved safety in schools, and enabling environment to allow both students and teachers to concentrate on academic activities without fear.
“You will wonder when you begin to start counting, is it the distribution of more than 30,000 educational materials, including exercise books, pens, and attendance registers, for efficiency of classroom learning, the 32 vulnerable girls and survivors of gender-based violence who were given school materials to support their continued education, under the AGILE project, the provision of 16 Toyota Corolla vehicles for Education Secretaries and an 18-seater bus for UBEC Smart School in Ijan-Ekiti would enhance educational supervision and inter-school mobility. These are simply bold step towards promoting girls’ rights.
Stating that Ekiti is back on the path to excellence, Oluwasanmi called on all stakeholders to redouble their support for Oyebanji, hailing the administration’s inclusive governance model, which he said ensures no one is left behind in education planning and implementation. He charged other states to emulate Ekiti’s model in reforming their education sectors.