The Lagos State Government on Monday officially kicked off the Boot Camp for Ibile Youth Academy, a leadership training programme for young people in the State, at Digital Bridge Institute (former Nitel Training School), Oshodi.
The one-week programme is for the 50 participants who emerged as winners from the Divisional Training held across the five divisions comprising Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos and Epe, whose names were announced by the Deputy Governor, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat at the One-Day Leadership Summit and Alumni Launch held at Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium last week.
In his address at the opening ceremony, Honourable Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Mobolaji Abubakre Ogunlende stated that “We can not afford to lose ourselves in the search for the Nigeria of our dreams. No nation is built by foreigners. We cannot actualise the lofty dream of our founding fathers if we don’t do away with the japa syndrome”.
He said that the youth, which is over 60% of Nigeria’s population, has what it takes to build the Nigeria of our dreams. “We need to come together and proffer homegrown solutions to the problems we are facing as a nation. Rome was not built in a day. It is one step at a time because a journey of a thousand miles starts with a step. We must not give up, but keep on pushing until we get it right in all sectors.”
He advised the participants to see Nigeria as their fatherland that no one else would develop it for them, adding that “collaboratively we can build the nation of our dreams because united we stand, divided we fall.”
In her address, the Permanent Secretary, Pharm (Mrs.) Toyin Oke-osanyintolu commended the participants for making it thus far and implored them to utilise the platform to further deepen the knowledge of what they had learnt from their previous training.
Imploring the youths to live by values which will make them worthy ambassadors of the state, Pharm Oke-osanyintolu stated that the realities posed by the youth demography made the present administration of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu prioritise youth empowerment as one of its developmental pillars, which the Ministry is concerned with.
At the end of the one-week residential camp training programme where participants will share experiences, learn from each other and take part in healthy competition, the overall best participant is picked as the State Youth Ambassador, while the next five in terms of excellent performance are picked as Divisional Ambassadors representing the five divisions in the State.
Abiodun Rewards Nigeria’s Best Teacher with Two-Bedroom Bungalow, FG Donates Car
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has rewarded Mr. Solanke Francis Taiwo, a primary school teacher at Ansa-Ur-Deen Main School I, Kemta Lawa, Abeokuta, with a two-bedroom bungalow.
The governor also presented him with the keys to a brand-new car donated by the Federal Government for emerging as the Overall Best Primary School Teacher in Nigeria for 2025/2026.
Mr. Solanke had earlier received a cash award of ₦50 million from the Federal Government at the National Teachers’ Summit in Abuja in recognition of his outstanding performance and dedication to education.
Governor Abiodun handed over the car keys to the award-winning teacher at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, in the presence of the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbagbu, and the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Oloko.
The governor disclosed that the two-bedroom bungalow would be allocated to Mr. Solanke in any location of his choice under the State Housing Scheme.
Governor Abiodun also reiterated his administration’s commitment to continuous training and retraining of teachers through workshops, seminars, digitisation initiatives, and AI-powered teaching platforms.
Speaking in an interview, Prof. Arigbagbu described the feat as a confirmation of the governor’s sustained investment in education and the impact of ongoing reforms in the sector.
“When you do things consistently and efficiently, you will definitely continue to get results. We have been winning the Best Teacher Award back-to-back. This same teacher won in October and has now emerged as the overall best teacher in Nigeria,” he said.
He attributed the achievement to the Ogun State Education Revitalisation Agenda, built on six pillars, with the last pillar focusing on students’ and teachers’ welfare.
“This administration has done so much across all the pillars. The declaration of emergency in the education sector led to far-reaching reforms covering curriculum development, school management, technology and innovation, infrastructure, funding, and students’ and teachers’ welfare,” he added.
According to the commissioner, the consistent national recognition of Ogun teachers and students is evidence that the reforms are yielding tangible results.
“It shows that when we say someone has emerged as the best teacher, it is not by chance or manipulation. It confirms that the entire education sector has been revitalised.
“We will continue on this path until the end of this administration. Ogun State is number one in education, and we cannot afford to go backwards,” he said.
Highlighting the state’s performance in external competitions, Prof. Arigbagbu recalled Ogun’s dominance in the JETS competitions, where students from the state won 18 out of 24 available awards in one year, with a single student clinching nine of those awards.
He attributed the success to sustained attention to the sector over the past six years.
On the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sub-sector, he revealed that five states have indicated interest in understudying Ogun’s model, particularly in TVET and the digitisation of education.
He added that the Federal Government and the National Board for Technical Education have commended the state’s achievements.
The commissioner noted that the car gift was meant to encourage other teachers to give their best, assuring that excellence would always be recognised in due time
In his remarks, Mr. Solanke expressed gratitude to the governor for creating a conducive environment for teachers and learners, noting that the state’s heavy investment and reforms in education are clearly paying off.
“I feel excited and fulfilled. I appreciate our education-friendly governor for this great honour and for celebrating excellence, innovation, and transformational impact among teachers across the state.
“I promise to continue giving my best to make Ogun State proud and to collaborate with fellow educators to sustain the standard of excellence for which the state is known,” he said.
He encouraged fellow teachers to remain committed to changing narratives, rewriting the stories of their learners, and bringing out the best in every child entrusted to their care.
