By Ademola Ade
The Ogun State Government has recruited more than 7,000 teachers since the inception of Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration and earmarked N24 billion for the provision and rehabilitation of critical education infrastructure across the state.
The government also disclosed that more than 1,500 OgunTEACh interns had been absorbed into the mainstream civil service.
The disclosures were made at the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration held at the Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, where the government presented over N51 million in cash awards to outstanding teachers, administrators and schools.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr Tokunbo Talabi, Governor Abiodun described teachers as the foundation of every profession and the society.
“Before a doctor learns to treat patients or an engineer designs a bridge, a teacher has awakened their minds and laid the foundation they are building upon,” Abiodun said.
He added that many achievements celebrated by society were made possible by teachers “whose names might never make the headlines, but whose influence remains written in the lives they have touched.”
According to him, his administration would continue to invest in teachers, schools and the future of children in Ogun State, stressing that the Ogun State Education Revitalisation Agenda, OGSERA, remained a key driver of reforms in curriculum delivery, school management, technology, infrastructure, funding and the welfare of teachers and learners.
Abiodun said the OgunTEACh programme had become a model for other states, having facilitated the recruitment of thousands of teachers into the state’s education system.
He announced the absorption of more than 1,500 OgunTEACh interns into the mainstream civil service, with the beneficiaries receiving their appointment letters at the ceremony.
The governor also commended teachers and education administrators in the state for distinguishing themselves nationally and internationally, noting that some Ogun educators were in Abuja receiving national awards in the categories of Best Teacher, Best Administrator and Best School.
At the ceremony, winners in various categories received cash prizes, with first-place winners in the Best Teacher categories receiving N2.5 million each, while second- and third-place winners received N1.5 million and N1 million respectively.
In the public primary school category, Mr Rasaq Babatunde emerged first, followed by Mrs Ayedun Oluwakemi and Mrs Ajayi Fatimo Bisola.
For the junior public school category, Mr Soleye Olugbemi emerged first, while Mrs Akande Abosede and Mrs Kuye Funmilayo came second and third respectively.
Mr Adebayo Oluwaseun, Mrs Akomolafe Beatrice and Aderibigbe Àjọṣe emerged first, second and third respectively in the senior public school category.
In the private teachers’ category, Mrs Akanni Àyọkà of Breakthrough Academy, Akute, emerged first, while Mr Kehinde Olusegun of Anglican High School, Quarry, came second.
In the Best Administrators’ public category, Mr Sodipo Raymond of Muslim Primary School, Ago-Oko, Abeokuta, won first prize. Mrs Bankole Oluranti of African Church Primary School 1, Ayetoro, came second, while Mrs Olakitan Silifat of Abeokuta South Local Government Nursery/Primary School, Ijemo, Abeokuta, emerged third.
Community Nursery and Primary School, Mike II, and Christ Apostolic Grammar School, Iperu, each received N10 million after emerging Best School in the primary and junior secondary school categories respectively.
The event also featured the presentation of the Award of Distinguished Leadership in Technology-Driven Education and Innovation to Governor Abiodun.
Speaking on the theme of the celebration, “Standing with Teachers: 60 Years of Protecting the Profession, Advancing its Status and Shaping Our Future,” the Ogun State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Comrade Sewakanu Noah Oladipupo, called for greater recognition, improved status and better welfare for teachers.
Oladipupo commended the state government for recruiting more than 6,000 teachers through the OgunTEACh platform, noting that no teacher recruitment had taken place in the state for eight years before the present administration came into office.
He also praised the government for approving and implementing teachers’ promotions from 2016 to 2024, adding that approval had been granted for the implementation of promotions for 2025 and 2026.
The NUT chairman particularly welcomed the removal of the longstanding ceiling that prevented primary school teachers from progressing beyond Grade Level 16.
He said the development had “restored parity, hope and dignity” to the primary school teaching profession.
Speaking on behalf of the newly appointed teachers, Miss Olasoji Tobiloba thanked the governor for absorbing the OgunTEACh interns into the mainstream civil service.
She pledged that the beneficiaries would reciprocate the gesture through greater diligence, commitment and dedication to duty.
The celebration was attended by government officials, education administrators, teachers, union leaders, school proprietors and other stakeholders who gathered to mark the contribution of teachers to the development of Ogun State and Nigeria.
