ASIWAJU BOLA TINUBU FULL BIOGRAPHY, LIFE, AND CAREER.

FULL NAME:         Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu

DATE OF BIRTH:   29 March 1952 (age 65)

OCCUPATION:       Accountant, Politician

MARITAL STATUS:  Married

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu

INTRODUCTION

Bola Ahmed Tinubu was elected Senator for the Lagos West constituency in Lagos State, Nigeria in 1993, he also was elected governor of Lagos State (1999 – 2007). He is said to be among Nigeria's most successful politicians ever. He is currently the national leader of the ruling party in Nigeria, All Progressive Congress (APC).

EARLY LIFE AND BACKGROUND

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was born in Lagos, Nigeria to the illustrious Tinubu Family of Lagos State. He attended Richard Daley College, Chicago Illinois, where he earned himself a place in the honours list of the College. He subsequently proceeded to the Chicago State University, Illinois where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (Accounting and Management).

During his undergraduate years, he was honoured with the Outstanding Student’s Award, The University Scholar’s Award and the Certificate of Merit in Accounting and Finance.

On his arrival in the U.S. in 1975 and with the support of an ever-adoring mother, this courageous youth, faced with an unflinching zeal to succeed, took on such menial jobs as dishwashing, night-guard and cab-driving to see himself through the initial difficulties of school at the Richard Daley College, Chicago, Illinois.

The brilliance of this young Nigerian showed in his ability to make the honours’ list of Richard Daley College. He subsequently transferred to the Chicago State University, Illinois, graduating with honours in 1979 and earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration (Accounting and Management). During his first year in Chicago State University, young Bola was given the rare privilege to partly teach other students of his Faculty remedial tutorial classes. Most of his colleagues and contemporaries at the university attributed their improved grades to his tutorial lectures.

Throughout his undergraduate years, young Bola was on the Dean’s List and was honoured with the Outstanding Student’s Award, the University Scholar’s Award and the Certificate of Merit in Accounting and Finance. He was also awarded the prestigious Summa cum laude for scoring 3.54 out of possible 4.0 GP.

With his successful academic profile, young Bola contested and won his first political election as the President of the Accounting Society of the institution in his final year at the University.

Upon graduation with honours and several awards, Bola Tinubu cut his professional teeth at the American-based Arthur Anderson, Deloitte Haskins and Sells (now called Deloitte Haskins and Touche) and GTE Service Corporation - the largest Communication and Utility Company in the United States of America.

Meanwhile, at Deloitte Haskins and Sells, the young and professional Bola broadened his experience by participating in the auditing and management consultancy services of General Motors, First National Bank of Chicago, Procter and Gamble, International Harvester, GEC and other Fortune 500 firms.

CAREER AND LIFE

On his return to Nigeria and with his international experience in Financial Management, young Bola joined Mobil Producing Nigeria as a Senior Auditor before he retired as the company’s Treasurer.

As pragmatic, charitable, grassroots’ person, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu saw communal service as a veritable tool for social development. He never hesitated to serve his community spearheading several financial contributions and fund-raising for community development programmes in Lagos State. He leads Primrose Group, a political action organization pushing for fundamental changes in the politics of Lagos State.

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu opted fully for public service in exchange for his lucrative job at Mobil. His first foray into active politics was as a founding member of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP). In 1992, he was elected as an Honourable Senator of the Federal Republic Nigeria to represent Lagos West Senatorial District. At the National Assembly, he distinguished himself as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Finance, Appropriation and Currency - a foremost committee of the Senate.

With the annulment of the June 12, 1993, Nigerian Presidential Election and the consequent fresh militarization of the Nigerian politics, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu became a founding member of the famous pro-democracy group, the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) which, for several years, engaged the military for the very soul of Nigeria. Subsequently, Bola Tinubu suffered many arrests and detention, harassments and constant threats to his life forcing him to flee Nigeria for his personal safety. He, however, did not give up the struggle as he joined NADECO abroad to continue the agitation for a restoration of democratic governance and the rule in the country.

In 1998, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu returned to Nigeria to heed a call for all Nigerians to join in the National Reconciliation and Development. A year later, he began his two-term public service as an elected Executive Governor of Lagos State on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

For his excellent performance as the Executive Governor of Lagos State of Nigeria (1999 – 2007), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu received several awards. These include Best Governor in Nigeria for Y2000 by the Nigerian-Belgian Chamber of Commerce; Y2002 Best Practices Prize in improving the living environment, awarded by the Federal Ministry of Works and the UN Habitat Group; Y2000 Best Computerized Government in Nigeria Award by the Computer Association of Nigeria. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was conferred with the Honorary Doctor of Law Degree by the Abia State University in recognition of his immense contribution to democracy, good governance and development of Nigeria. He is the proud recipient of numerous other chieftaincy titles and a patron of many professional and social organizations.

As an astute political strategist, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu survived the massive incursion of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the South Western States of Nigeria as the lone re-elected Governor of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). This led him on a regular collision course with the PDP-controlled Federal Government, especially on his creation of additional 37 Local Council Development Areas for Lagos States. A Supreme Court judgment in his favour stated that the Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo’s Federal Government should release the seized statutory allocation of the Lagos State Local Government funds.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was actively involved in the creation of the Action Congress (AC) political party as recourse to the decimated Alliance for Democracy (AD). Rallying like minds across the country, he sold sound ideals and programmes on this fresh and new political platform. Within a few months, he transformed this new party as the credible opposition to the PDP in the country.

His political career began in 1992 when he was elected to the Nigerian Senate representing the Lagos West constituency in the short-lived Nigerian Third Republic. After the results of the 12 June 1993 presidential elections were annulled, Tinubu became a founding member of the pro-democracy National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), which mobilized support for the restoration of democracy and recognition of the 12 June results. He went into exile in 1994 and returned to the country in 1998 after the death of military dictator Sani Abacha, which ushered in a transition to civilian rule.

In the run-up to the 1999 elections, Bola Tinubu was a protégé of Alliance for Democracy (AD) leaders Abraham Adesanya and Ayo Adebanjo. He won the AD primaries for the Lagos State gubernatorial elections in competition with Funsho Williams and Wahab Dosunmu, a former Minister of Works and Housing. In April 1999, he stood for the position of Executive Governor of Lagos State on the AD ticket and was elected.

Lagos State governor

When he assumed office in May 1999, Bola Ahmed Tinubu promised 10,000 housing units for the poor. During his eight-year period of office, he made large investments in education in the state. He also initiated new road construction, required to meet the needs of the fast-growing population of the state.

The Oloye Tinubu, alongside a new deputy governor, Femi Pedro, won re-election to office as Governor in April 2003. All other states in the South West fell to the People's Democratic Party.

He was involved in a struggle with the Federal government over whether Lagos State had the right to create new Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) to meet the needs of its large population.

The controversy led to the Federal government seizing funds meant for local councils in the state. During the later part of his term in office, he was engaged in continuous clashes with PDP powers such as Adeseye Ogunlewe, a former Lagos State senator who became minister of works, and Bode George, southwest chairman of the PDP.

Relations between Bola Tinubu and deputy governor Femi Pedro became increasingly tense after Pedro declared his intention to run for the gubernatorial elections. Femi Pedro competed to become the AC candidate for governor in the 2007 elections but withdrew his name on the eve of the party nomination. He defected to the Labour Party while still keeping his position as deputy governor. Tinubu's tenure as Lagos State Governor ended on 29 May 2007 when Babatunde Fashola of the Action Congress took office. Fashola had been Chief of Staff to Bola Tinubu.

Today, the great legacy of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is built on by his successor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), who served as his Chief of Staff. Continuation of Tinubu’s outstanding policies makes the present administration of Lagos State an exceptional and the foremost Government in Nigeria.

The Jagaban Borgu still marches on in the political landscape of the country, with a resolve to take on any challenging task with positive public to reduce poverty among his people.

Following the victory by the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in the April 2007 elections, Bola Tinubu was active in negotiations to bring together the fragmented opposition parties into a "mega-party" capable of challenging the PDP in 2011. In July 2009, he called for implementation of electoral reforms spelt out in the Uwais report to ensure that the 2011 elections would be as free and fair as the elections of 1993 had been. In December 2009 there were reports that Babatunde Fashola and Bola Tinubu had fallen out over the issue of whether Fashola should run for re-election in 2011, with Tinubu said to be supporting the Commissioner for Environment, Muiz Banire.

Tinubu formed a new party alongside Muhammadu Buhari a party which was named All Progressive Congress (APC). The goal was to build a stronger party to get rid of the ruling party PDP.

In 2015 Tinubu's target became a success as APC won the presidential elections and most of the polls across the country.

Tinubu is married to Oluremi Tinubu, the current Senator of central Lagos State. His youngest daughter, Abibat Tinubu, graduated from a Music college in Boston, Massachusetts, US in 2013.

CAPACITY BUILDING CONFERENCE FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL TEACHERS ON SCHOOL SAFETY - OYOMESI

Being the responsibility of the Oyo State Government to ensure that all relevant stakeholders are in sync with the various recent developments in state’s educational sector, the Oyo State Model Education System Interventions (OYOMESI) organised a Capacity Building Conference (CBC) for Proprietors and Teachers of private schools in the State on Wednesday, November 1, 2017 at the Western Hall, Oyo State House of Assembly Complex, Agodi, Ibadan. The well-attended conference had the presence of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Dr Bisi Akin-Alabi; Special Assistant to the Governor on Education, Hon. Adeyemi Adekola; Representative of Blue Charter Associates, the OYOMESI Project Administrator, Mr Yemi Adesanya; OYOMESI School Safety Administrator, Negesti; President of NAPPS (National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools) Oyo State, Pastor Kayode Adeyemi; President of Association of Model Islamic Schools (AMIS), Alh. Abbas Lawal and the AJUMOSE Safety Ambassadors Coordinator, Mr Akinwale Oluyinka.

Ms Bosinuola Abiola giving the HSE briefing.  

The programme commenced with Safety Moments, an HSE (Health, Safety and Environment) brief on necessary steps to take peradventure there is a notice of emergency at the venue. This was led by an OYOMESI Field Officer, Ms Bosinuola Abiola.  

Hon. Adeyemi Adekola giving his speech.  

In his opening speech, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Education, Hon. Adeyemi Adekola expressed his warm welcome to everyone at the programme. He spoke about the recent developments in the state’s educational sector, which majorly lies under the OYOMESI Project, such as: WAEC BOOT CAMP, OYOMESI Job Experience (OJE) Scheme, CBCs etc. Adding that these have resulted in the recognition of Ibadan as a learning city, by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). He also stated the importance and need for school environment to be safe as a child spends about one-third of the day in the school.  

Dr Bisi Akin-Alabi giving her speech.  

hile declaring the programme open, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Dr Bisi Akin-Alabi in her speech stated that education is incomplete without safety, as it is only children who are safe that can learn and achieve according to the United Nations. She added that School Safety is a means through which schools can gain recognition and financial support, citing an example in Lagos State. Stressing the invaluable importance of ensuring school safety, she cited various examples revolving around issues with safety in schools from her experience as a teacher and the school safety coordinator in Lagos State. She ended her speech with a song she taught the attendees on safety in schools.  

Negesti speaking to the attendees.  

The programme witnessed 2 plenary sessions which were led by the OYOMESI School Safety Administrator, Negesti, during which she emphasised the need for the school management to prevent avoidable risks, raise general safety awareness amongst its members of staff and hence protect the pupils. During the plenary sessions, the School Heads and Teachers present were divided into groups in order to deliberate on issues regarding school safety in Oyo State.

  

OYOMESI TEAM ORGANISED CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOP FOR CHAIRPERSONS OF SGB ON EFFECTIVE MONITORING OF THE OYOMESI AGENDA IN SCHOOLS.

In a quest to hasten up actions in realising the vision of the present administration under the leadership of Governor Abiola Ajimobi in Oyo State to raise civil, competent citizens through a wholesome education, the OYOMESI Project Committee held a Capacity Building Workshop for Chairpersons of the state’s School Governing Board (SGB). The programme which was chaired by the Former Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Arch. Olunloyo, was held on Friday, October 20, 2017 at the House of Chiefs, Oyo State House of Assembly, in order to ensure that Chairpersons of the SGB carry out effective monitoring of the actualisation of OYOMESI agenda in Oyo State schools. 

Dr Bisi Akin-Alabi, Arch. Olunloyo (woman in red cap, between
the 2^nd and 3^rd row), and members of the SGB

In her address, Dr Bisi Akin-Alabi stated that all recent government policies on education like the SGB, the abolition of automatic promotion, 80% attendance by pupils and the Oyo State Model Education System Interventions (OYOMESI) are to support education development in the state. OYOMESI encourages positive character and uplifts moral values in the state education system, she said, as she explained the 3 strands of OYOMESI to the SGB Chairpersons. Adding that the first strand focuses on Character Education, strand 2 focuses on Localised Education Content, and strand 3 focuses on Improving Teachers' Competencies and Motivation.

While seeking the support of the SGB Chairpersons, Dr Bisi Akin-Alabi commended their efforts in ensuring that the goals and objectives of government in setting up the School Governing Board (SGB) are realised. She also added that the organised Capacity Building Workshop will require and guide them at ensuring that the goals of the OYOMESI agenda are also actualised for the benefit of the good people of Oyo State.   

Speaking on behalf of the Chairmen, Engr Oyedele Moses Oyeniran, the SGB Chairman of Community Secondary School (Junior), Bioku Alaadun, Ona-Ara Local Government, commended the State Governor, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi for the effort he is putting in place to build a solid foundation for education development in the state. He disclosed that the idea of the SGB, which gives room for stakeholders’ participation directly in the affairs of the school has helped a lot. He also promised that the SGB Chairmen will support and cooperate with the OYOMESI Project Committee towards the success of the OYOMESI agenda. 

In line with the State Government’s drive to raise competent civil citizens, Mr Sikiru Abass of Microsoft Imagine Academy gave a presentation on the preparation of pupils in the state for careers in the present technology-driven world. 

 

IN COLLABORATION WITH OYOMESI, FRSC TRAINS OYO STATE TEACHERS ON ROAD SAFETY EDUCATION

We all have a role to play towards ensuring safety of lives on our roads, this led to a collaborative effort between the Oyo State Model Education System Interventions (OYOMESI) and the Oyo Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), to organise a Train the Trainer workshop for Basic School Teachers in Oyo State. The workshop which was centred on Road Safety Education was held on October 30, 2017, at the Federal Cooperative College, Eleyele, Ibadan.

Attendees at the workshop include, Special Adviser on Education to Gov. Abiola Ajimobi, Dr Bisi Akin-Alabi; the Special Assistant on Education, Mr Adewuyi Adekola; OYOMESI School Safety Administrator, Negesti; the Sector Commander of FRSC Oyo Sector Command, CC Cecilia Alao; the Acting Zonal Commanding Officer of RS11 Headquarters, Oshogbo, Mr Gbenga Shobowale Oke, FRSC Officers and School Teachers. 

L-R: Negesti, Mr Adewuyi Adekola, Dr Bisi Akin-Alabi, CC Cecilia Alao and Mr Gbenga Shobowale Oke.

The workshop which was made up of technical/training sessions and group demonstration by Officers of the Corps, was commenced with a welcome address by the Sector Commander, CC Cecilia Alao, who welcomed all and sundry to the workshop. She stated that the training which is birthed out of a collaboration between the FRSC and OYOMESI is aimed at training the teachers on the basic rudiments of road safety with the hope that they will pass the learning to their pupils.

In his keynote address, the Acting Zonal Commanding Officer, Mr Gbenga Shobowale Oke spoke to the audience on the need to have organised a training workshop of this nature ever since the infusion of Road Safety Education into the curriculum of basic schools since March 2012. He added that the Federal Road Safety Corps has mapped out strategies to execute this programme, in order to entrench road safety culture and awareness in school children by training their teachers.

A practical demonstration on Understanding the Road and 4 papers were delivered by Officers of the Corps during the workshop on;

•  Causes, Effect and Prevention of Road Traffic Crashes/Automobile Checks and Routine Maintenance,
•   First Aid/Casualty handling,
•   Road Traffic Signs, Signals and Markings, and
•   Child Safety Tips. 

Dr Bisi Akin-Alabi while giving her address.

In her address, which started with an excerpt from the words of Donald D. Quinn, “If a doctor, lawyer, or dentist had 40 people in his office at one time, all of whom had different needs, and some of whom didn't want to be there and were causing trouble, and the doctor, lawyer, or dentist, without assistance, had to treat them all with professional excellence for nine months, then he might have some conception of the classroom teacher's job”. Dr Bisi Akin-Alabi stated that, teachers have one of the most demanding vocations in the world and in order to fulfil their important roles with excellence, they need training, motivation as well as regular mental, emotional and spiritual rejuvenation. Hence, to prove that an educational system is recognised as pertinent to the development of the state, region or society, the entire society must demonstrate the importance of the teacher by appreciating teachers, which should be evidenced by the resources spent on building teachers’ capacity. 

She went further to explain the 3^rd strand of OYOMESI which is aimed at bridging this gap and hence, provide a structured Teachers’ Continuing Professional Development and Incentive Programmes that would be implemented to suit world best practices. This has a multiplier effect of building a good legacy in the educational sector in Oyo State and achieving the 4^th goal of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal, as desired by the Oyo State Government under Sen. Abiola Ajimobi led administration.

Speaking of the present realities, Dr Bisi Akin-Alabi stated that the training needs of members of the Oyo State teaching force are truly daunting, which is the reason OYOMESI is collaborating with organisations such as the FRSC, to conduct Capacity Building Workshop on Road Safety Education for teachers in the 33 LGAs in the state.

She added that OYOMESI acts as a bridge to achieving sustainable developments in the education sector and hence, welcomes such collaborative acts from Government Organisations, NGOs and the Private Sector. An example of such is the recent collaboration with Microsoft and Signal Alliance to roll out the biggest Microsoft Imagine Academy in Africa.

In conclusion, she reiterated the news of Ibadan belonging to the UNESCO Learning Cities Network, which implies that other parts of the State are Learning Neighbourhoods. Of which she gave her assurance that the Oyo State Government will continue to strive to ensure that all value additions of learning neighbourhoods are realised and our society is truly transformed.

In her remarks, the FRSC Oyo Sector Commander, CC Cecilia Alao stated that it is responsibilities of the organisation to ensure that road traffic crash in the state is reduced to the barest minimum through the use of educational tools, enforcement and stakeholders’ collaboration.

Group picture with some teachers that participated in the training. 

She added that FRSC is determined to ensure that our pupils are imbibed with safe-road culture and enhanced behavioural modification through the use of approaches of curriculum and co-curriculum activities to structure and infuse safety education in schools.

CC Alao commended the State Governor, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi for creating a laudable vision for the benefit of future leaders of the state through the Oyo State Model Education System Interventions (OYOMESI) initiative.

LITERACY: OYO STATE GOVERNMENT PARTNERS WITH MICROSOFT AND SIGNAL ALLIANCE THROUGH OYOMESI

In accordance with the Oyo State Government’s quest of developing a capable workforce in Oyo State and making the state become a hub for knowledgeable and skilled experts, the Oyo State Model Education System Interventions (OYOMESI) has established a collaboration with global technological companies, Microsoft and Signal Alliance to establish 8 Cluster Learning and Resource Centres. These are expected to increase to 33 by 2019, that is 1 in each of the 33 Local Government Areas of the state and one in every school within the next 5 years. 

According to Dr Bisi Akin-Alabi, the Special Adviser on Education, the initial 8 Cluster Learning and Resource Centres will be equipped with 800 computers (100 in each of the 8 Centres). This was made known at a press briefing held on Wednesday, October 25, 2017, at the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism Gallery, Oyo State Government Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

L-R: Jordan Belmonte, Mrs Aderonke Makanjuola, Dr Bisi Akin-Alabi, Mr Toye Arulogun, Prof Adeniyi Olowofela and Mrs Adanma Onoegbu.

She stated further that the 8 Cluster Learning and Resource Centres birthed from this collaboration will consist of 4 centres in Ibadan, 2 in Oke Ogun zone, 1 in Oyo/Ogbomosho zone and 1 in Ibarapa zone, which will all be equipped with 100 computers each, amounting to 800 computers in all.

Cross section of attendees at the press briefing. 

In her words, she stressed that in a globalised world where knowledge has become the mainstay of most economies, any society that does not equip its citizens with the tools and means of lifelong learning, will be seriously handicapped. 

Dr Bisi Akin-Alabi added that education is critical to national development and any government that fails to invest a lot of its resources, energy and time on human capital development, does so at its own peril. Hence, Oyo State Government is taking a very bold step towards reclaiming the lost glory in the education sector as well as improving its quality in order to be at per with new and emerging trends in education, through the Oyo State Model Education System Interventions (OYOMESI) and other strategic initiatives. 

Conveying the good intention of the State Governor, the Governor’s Aide stated that Sen. Abiola Ajimobi is keen at tackling the challenges posed by access to quality education in the state, therefore ensures that all pupils in the state (in both government and private-owned schools) have access to the various programmes OYOMESI has birthed since its launch in May 2017. She added that Sen. Abiola Ajimobi’s administration is committed to working towards the attainment of the targets outlined in the 4th Sustainable Development Goal by the United Nations (UN): Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning. 

Jordan Belmonte, the Head of Microsoft Education Programs explained that the Microsoft Imagine Academy is a digital learning initiative that helps in bridging the skills gap by providing teachers with curriculum for teaching Information Technology (IT). She added that the academy will provide industry-recognised technology education, skills and certifications that pupils and educators need to promote independent lifelong learning. 

The CEO of Signal Alliance, Mrs Adanma Onoegbu, in her remarks added that it is important to prepare pupils to be IT-compliant before they join the workforce. She stressed the need for technological education to be embraced in all parts of Nigeria, hence the need to support the digital literacy drive of Oyo State Government. She gave her assurance that Signal Alliance will ensure that the objectives of the programme are realised. 

In his address, the State Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela stated that academic lecture notes tagged Ajumose Notes which are developed in core subjects would be made available in Portable Document Format (PDF), in order for the pupils to access them at the Cluster Learning Centres. 

While fielding questions from members of the Press, Dr Bisi Akin-Alabi announced that Gov. Abiola Ajimobi will launch the initiative soon with school proprietors, heads of schools, IT directors of learning at all levels and education stakeholders in attendance.

Oyo State Government to Unveil Cluster Learning and Resource Centres Across Schools – Dr Bisi Akin-Alabi

L-R: Jordan Belmonte, Mrs Aderonke Makanjuola, Dr Bisi Akin-Alabi, Mr Toye Arulogun and Prof Adeniyi Olowofela.

In order to improve access for pupils in both public and private schools to qualitative education, the Oyo State government is ready to launch Digital Literacy Drive and Cluster Learning Centres across schools in the state.

The plan, which is propelled by the Oyo State Model Education System Interventions (OYOMESI) in collaboration with Microsoft and Signal Alliance was disclosed at a press briefing attended by the representatives of Microsoft, Signal Alliance, SGB and other relevant stakeholders in the education sector of the state.

The step according to Dr Bisi Akin-Alabi, the Special Adviser on Education to the State Governor, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, is another unprecedented move by Oyo government to prepare the state for a knowledge-based future and make it a hub for producing knowledgeable and competent workforce in Nigeria.

Her words, “In a globalised world in which knowledge has become the mainstay of most economies, any society that does not equip its citizens with the tools and means of life-long learning will be seriously handicapped.

“Education is critical to national development and any government that fails to invest a lot of its resources, energy, and time on human capital development does so at its own peril. Oyo State government is taking a very bold step towards reclaiming the lost glory of the education sector as well as improving its quality to meet new and emerging trends in education through the Oyo State Model Education System Interventions (OYOMESI) and other strategic initiatives.

“OYOMESI comprises of interventional strategies & principles to find solutions for a better education system that influences the teachers, pupils, parents’ attitudes, focus, beliefs for the pursuits of wholesome education offerings.

“It also inculcates character education, value for integrity, honesty and respect. This holistic approach to raising attainment in education and learning will no doubt put a stop to poor academic performance and ensure the state regains its rightful place as a pacesetter, front-runner and leader in Education in Nigeria.”

Dr Bisi Akin-Alabi further explained that the intention of Governor Abiola Ajimobi is to tackle the challenges of access, equity and quality in education and ensuring that all pupils in the state (public and private schools) have access to OYOMESI activities, and to demonstrate the government’s commitment towards delivery of the SDG 4 and bridge gaps in provision.

Head of Microsoft Education Programs, Jordan Belmonte explained that the Microsoft Imagine Academy is a digital learning initiative that helps bridge skill gap by providing teachers with the curriculum for teaching ICT and the framework that will enable pupils and educators achieve success.

She stated further that Microsoft Imagine Academy provides industry-recognised technology education, skills, and certifications that pupils and educators need to promote independent life-long learning.

The state Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela, in his address stated that academic lecture notes tagged Ajumose Notes are developed in core subjects and these should be made available as PDF for pupils to access in the cluster learning centres as well as other key learning resources.

In his submission, the Special Adviser on Information, Communication and Technology, Mr Niyi Ajao expressed that the aims of the state government is to utilise technology to drive economic growth and create knowledge-driven jobs over the next five years.

He opined that this has led to the establishment of a Technical University that will produce graduates to feed the industries being set up in the recently launched Pacesetter Industrial Park along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

Ajao further stated that literacy is beyond the ability to read and write as over 90% of future jobs will require some level of digital skills. He enjoined solution providers, infrastructure and equipment vendors to support the administration and contribute to the development of the skills required to support the state’s knowledge-driven future.

The ICT Special Adviser, therefore, used the opportunity to unveil Signal Alliance as Microsoft’s partner that would assist in the implementation and management of the Microsoft imagine Academy.

Dr Akin-Alabi announced that His Excellency will launch the initiative soon with school proprietors, heads of schools, IT directors of learning at all levels and education stakeholders in attendance.

Promise fulfilled!

A laptop being handed over to the Vice-Principal (Academics) of Wesley College, Elekuro, for the School's use in accessing educational and e-learning contents on the OYOMESI Portal.

Dr Bisi Akin-Alabi and the Vice -Principal of Wesley College