Ogun State was a point of reference in the provision of quality and affordable education in the past. Some states of the federation have had reasons to take the Ogun State example in education.
Ogun, apart from been one of the states with the highest number of tertiary institutions, the state was in the lead in so many other areas. A significant point in support of the leadership claim was the establishment of the first University of Education in Nigeria. It is the second in Africa and eight in the world. The university was established by the Gbenga Daniel administration in 2005.
Other legacies of Daniel administration in the field of education are there for people to see. Clearly, history has pages devoted to the Daniel administration achievements in Ogun State.
Fast forward to the present Ogun State of Senator Ibikunle Amosun as Governor, the expectation of all and sundry was that the administration would build on the good foundation laid by the previous ones and possibly surpass them. The way things stand now, this government is not meeting the expectations and shows no skill suggesting the surpassing of legacies met on the ground.
It was clear from day one that education was going to have it stormy and bad when Governor Amosun announced the scrap of Tai Solarin University of Education with the intention to merge it with the Faculty of Education of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye.
It took serious intervention by stakeholders within and outside the state before the government rescinded the unpopular decision. The tensed atmosphere created by the announcement did not go without casualty as a TASUED student named Fasina Olatunji lost his life in a ghastly motor accident while traveling in a student mobilized buses to protest against the government decision at the Okemosan governor's office in Abeokuta.
Until recently, Ogun state was among the first ten leading states with best ‘o’ level (May/June) result before the coming of this administration according to WAEC. Even at a time, the state was second. But judging by the recent press release by the same body, Ogun State sits almost at the bottom of the table.
The Ibikunle Amosun administration recently announced that billions of naira had been spent so far on education and the question is where exactly the huge sum was spent. Today, education sector in the state is an eye sore with dilapidated structures, inadequate teachers and facilities, unpaid salaries and cooperative deductions among others.
The future definitely look good if people make the right choice in 2019. The next administration must be holistic in whatever approach it wants to adopt to resolve the perennial issues in education sector starting with the appointment of a seasoned education administrator as the Honorable Commissioner for education to deliver good educational policies and reposition the sector for greater glory.
Secondly, the state must collaborate with corporate organizations and individuals to profit the sector through Public Private Partnership (PPP) which can help return Ogun State to where it should belong.
Thirdly, affordable and qualitative education for pupils in public schools must not be compromised.
Also, the state must reconstruct the dilapidated structures and build more public schools with functional facilities to accommodate the growing population.
Among other things that must be prioritized is the salary and other enhanced benefit of workers in the sector to ensure effectiveness and quality service delivery.
As 2019 elections gather momentum, I appeal to the good people of Ogun state to think of no other man than OTUNBA ROTIMI PASEDA(ORP)...The man of the masses,an astute politician,a true democrat,an exemplary of worthiness and an epitome of simplicity...ORP Stand the best in all the candidate for Ogun state guber race come 2019.
Hon.Ismail Olalekan
Obafemi owode
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