The Ondo State Government has reiterated its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education to ensure that every Nigerian child has access to quality and inclusive education.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa made this known on Monday in Akure during the opening ceremony of the 69th National Council on Education (NCE) meeting themed “Quality Education, Data, and Professionalisation of Teaching: A Tool for Enhanced National Development.”
Represented by his deputy, Olayide Adelami, Governor Aiyedatiwa said Ondo State has made significant strides in reshaping its education system in line with its seven-point development agenda, codenamed OUR EASE.
“This has been the driving force propelling policy reforms and implementation in the education sector of the state. Efforts have been directed at enhancing access to and the quality of education in Ondo State,” the governor said.
“Such efforts include, but are not limited to, investment in digital education infrastructure, such as the gradual introduction of smart classrooms, digital literacy programmes, and technology-based learning tools. This will prepare our learners for the demands of the 21st-century knowledge economy.”
He added that the state’s reforms align with the National Council on Education resolutions and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on education, emphasizing the central role of learning in achieving sustainable development.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Abel Enitan, highlighted that data-driven decision-making remains critical to transforming Nigeria’s education sector.
“Both quality education data and professionalisation of teachers are indispensable tools for achieving measurable and sustainable progress in our education sector. Without accurate, timely, and reliable data, policy decisions risk being driven by assumptions rather than evidence,” Mr. Enitan said.
He urged delegates to contribute innovative ideas and work toward actionable resolutions that would strengthen the education system across all levels.
Ondo’s Drive Toward Sustainable Growth
Also speaking, Akindele Ige, Administrative Secretary of the State Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, reaffirmed the government’s dedication to education as the cornerstone of sustainable growth and human capital development.
He noted that the NCE meeting offers a platform to enhance federal-state collaboration and develop globally competitive education systems capable of driving national transformation.
“We must reaffirm our collective commitment to building resilient, inclusive, and globally competitive education systems for national transformation and sustainable prosperity,” Ige said.
