Wife of the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, has reaffirmed that the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji remains strongly committed to raising the standard of education in the state.
She noted that the government’s concern for education is evident in the deliberate policies and programmes designed to improve learning outcomes across all levels.
Dr. Oyebanji gave this assurance in Ado-Ekiti while hosting the management staff of the Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan (UI), Oyo State, who paid her a courtesy visit.
According to her, the government considers education as the foundation for sustainable development, hence the priority placed on initiatives that guarantee access, equity, and quality. She cited the Back-to-School Initiative as one of such programmes through which vulnerable pupils are provided with learning materials, including uniforms, sandals, bags, and books, at the beginning of every academic session.
“This intervention is not just about giving out materials; it is about giving children from vulnerable backgrounds hope, encouragement, and a fair opportunity to pursue their dreams. When children are properly equipped and motivated, their confidence increases, and they are more likely to remain in school,” she said.
The Governor’s wife commended the Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan, for its role in producing quality teachers and advancing educational research in Nigeria. She pledged her support for the faculty’s efforts to rehabilitate and expand its facilities, describing the University as a national asset that must not be allowed to decline.
Earlier in his remarks, the Dean of the Faculty of Education, Professor Kester Kehinde Oluwaseun, decried the poor state of educational facilities across the country. He lamented that inadequate infrastructure had become a major challenge to teaching and learning, stressing that many classrooms at the University of Ibadan were overstretched due to the rising number of students admitted yearly.
Professor Oluwaseun appealed to the Ekiti State Government and other stakeholders to intervene in addressing the infrastructural deficit, describing UI as a legacy institution that has contributed immensely to national development.
“It is a legacy which should be nurtured. As managers of this faculty, we cannot fold our hands while facilities deteriorate. That is why we are seeking collaborative efforts from government, alumni, philanthropists, and well-meaning Nigerians to help restore and strengthen our infrastructure for the benefit of the education system,” he stressed.
The Dean went further to confer on Dr. Oyebanji the title of “Ambassador” of the faculty, noting that her passion for education and advocacy for improved learning conditions place her in a strategic position to champion the rehabilitation of the university’s facilities.
Also present to receive the visiting team were the Chairman of the Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Professor Femi Akinwumi; the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Bimpe Aderiye; and the Coordinator of the Widows, Aged, Orphans, and Hope (WAOH) Project.