Minister, NUT, ANCOPPS presidents to honour Makinde September

The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, will be in Ibadan by September to witness the investiture of Governor Seyi Makinde as the Grand Patron of the All Nigerian Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) in Oyo State.

Also expected at the event are the national presidents of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Dr. Nasir Idris, and that of ANCOPPS, Mr Anselm Izuagie, among other stakeholders in the education sector.

While speaking with newsmen after a meeting with the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs Olubamiwo Adeosun, on Tuesday, the Oyo State president of ANCOPPS, Pastor Mojisola Ojetunde; and his secretary, Mr Akin Akinade, said the body is not only proud, but also extremely delighted with the leadership style of the governor, especially in the area of education development.

The duo said the present administration in Oyo State has returned the old glory of  yesteryear in education by instituting genuine people-centred policy like free and qualitative education policy that encompasses better teaching conditions for teachers and students alike, which he noted has reflected in the performance of students in external examinations.

Ojetunde said: “How can one forget in a hurry how the present administration at its inception organized three-day capacity training in a conducive atmosphere for instructional leaders (principals and vice principals) for efficient and effective management of our secondary schools.

“In my over 30 years as a teacher, this never happened. It shows a governor who clearly understands what it means to train and retrain the commanders on the field.

“Again, one can see the recruitment of over 5,000 teachers, and conversion of over 1,000 non-teaching to teaching staff. In one fell swoop, over 6,000 teachers were added to our classrooms.

“This is certainly unprecedented and I know what I am talking about. This is not even talking about distribution of chairs and desks, laboratory equipment, exercise and text books and to crown it all, prompt payment of salaries which is more than a morale booster.”

He said the honour ANCOPPS is giving to Governor Makinde as its Grand Patron is to further celebrate the activities, policies and programmes of his administration in the area of education, “which today has reflected in the major improvements we are witnessing in the sector.”

He said today, Oyo State is one of the leading lights among other states in the federation in education development.

“Remember it was among some other states mentioned at the outset of the present administration to be among those with high number of out-of-school children.

“Today, the story has changed. We now have over 6000 students that are back in school because of these laudable steps of the state government,” he added.