₦airaland Forum

*Applause as AbdulRazaq addresses Kwara school heads*
•Gov’s investments in education inclusive, revolutionary: principals
•How we’re addressing disparity, by SUBEB chairman

Heads of secondary schools in Kwara State on Wednesday said Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s achievements in turning around learning environment and improving welfare of teachers are unmatched in the recent history of the state.

The teachers also commended the introduction of KwaraLEARN which they say is truly impactful, adding that the administration’s interventions have also been spread across every part of the state in a way never seen before.

The school heads made the commendations in Ilorin, the state capital, at an open engagement the Governor held to feel their pulse on government’s focus on basic education and their welfare across board.

At least 300 school principals attended the meeting — along with some key stakeholders from across the education sector in Kwara State.

The teachers, who acknowledged the improvements in their wages and teaching environment, also called on the Governor to consider restoring boarding facilities which died off a few years ago, end the pay disparities between teachers in basic classes and their senior secondary school counterparts which he inherited, commit more funds to laboratories in the schools, and do more to offset the arrears of salaries he met in 2019.

Principal of Ilorin Grammar School, Hajia Abdullahi Muslimat Iyabo, said the school was one of the schools which benefited from comprehensive renovation of schools under Governor AbdulRazaq’s administration.

"Our school benefitted from not just a few renovations but total renovation of the school. On behalf of the management of Ilorin Grammar School, we want to say thank you. I also want to express our gratitude to you for the sense of humility and commitment to the welfare of the teachers and students. I want to also sincerely appreciate your efforts at ensuring that teachers are promoted, and we want you to keep this up,” she said.

Principal of Community Junior Secondary School Ipetu-Igbomina in Irepodun Local Government, Mr. Babatunde Josuah Adegboyega, said the administration has given a befitting facelift to schools while doing its best to promote welfare.

"I want to appreciate your good gesture for the promotion implemented, the welfare packages on salaries as well as changing the facelift of schools through renovation. God will continue to be your guide", Adegboyega said.

Principal Queen Elizabeth Senior Secondary School Ilorin, Sidikat Taye Lawal, commended AbdulRazaq for his prompt interventions on issues affecting the school.

"On behalf of the old students of Queen Elizabeth School of which I am one of them thank you for transforming Queen Elizabeth School to a modern secondary school through the road network. We want to appreciate you again for your care and love for the students on exchange programme because I remember last year I was in Minna, Niger State for the Conference of Principals of Exchange Schools and Kwara State was ranked the best in the programme,” she said.

“We were able to interact with principals from other states and learnt how some had to borrow money to feed their students. But in the case of Kwara, we get money to feed these students as and when due and you transport them at the right time, not leaving them for their parents to send transportation fees. Thank you very much sir."

Mrs Jimoh C. S. of Junior Secondary School Awonga, Shao in Moro Local Government, said the condition of the school was in a sorry state before 2019.

"l want to appreciate Your Excellency, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for the changes you have made in education sector. In the time past in my former school, Government Junior Secondary School, Bode Saadu, the school was in bad state, I don't even know how to describe the school, all the structures there had been destroyed,” she recalled.

"l used to go to SUBEB almost everyday to beg for renovation of the school but nothing was done. There was a time the man told me that the school is one of the schools to be renovated but nothing happened. But when our Excellency got there, both new construction and renovation were done in the school.”

Umar Abubakar, the Principal of Secondary School, Senior Secondary School Kanko, Shonga District in Edu Local Government, said the trajectory of basic education has changed for good since the Governor came.

Balla Sa’ad, another principal from Islamiyah College Patigi, described AbdulRazaq as a workaholic Governor who has committed so much resources to improve basic education.

“He is a people's Governor and a friendly Governor. In fact, in my local government, the slogan now is everywhere you go, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s good works are there", he said.

The school principals advocated recruitment of more science and languages teachers as well as non-teaching staff, provision of more textbooks in core subjects, in-service training for teachers, improved security network of schools.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development Mrs Mary Adeosun said the Governor has been exemplary in his commitment to education which she said mirrors his passion for the future of the state.

Chairman of SUBEB, Prof Shehu Raheem Adaramaja, described the interactive session as historic in the state.

Adaramaja blamed the longstanding disparity in pay between SUBEB and TESCOM teachers on four factors, out of which two have now been resolved.

He listed the factors to be over-deduction of NUT and National Housing Scheme (NHS) dues — both of which have now been addressed and reflected in the teachers’ salaries — stoppage of step upgrades for SUBEB teachers since 2016, and non-payment of allowances due to teachers with TRCN. He said these challenges will also be resolved, but called for patience and understanding of the teachers.

Adaramaja also said pending promotion arrears would soon be implemented, recalling that the administration had similarly fixed some of the promotion arrears it inherited without any political colouration.

The SUBEB boss said training and retraining of teachers has been paramount to the administration, especially with the renewed cordial relationship between UBEC and SUBEB.

AbdulRazaq, for his part, acknowledged all the issues raised by the teachers and said the administration remains committed to total turnaround of the education sector so that Kwara can reclaim its place in the north and Nigeria as a whole.

"We have introduced KwaraLEARN programme and I thank you all for embracing the programme. That's one of the paths to bringing Kwara back on top in Northern Nigeria and the rest of the country. The investment the government and you are making today may not show immediately but it is something that will speak for all of us later in the future. What you are doing is to produce responsible citizens for Nigeria and the world, and we are grateful for that,” he said
"I have listened carefully to all the issues of promotions, leave bonuses, uniforms in schools, non-academic staff employment, textbooks, harmonisation between TESCOM and SUBEB salary, in-service trainings, seminars, security in schools, unity schools and exchange students within the state, equipping laboratories in our schools, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities in schools, backlog of salaries, girl-child education, encroachment of school properties and building of shops in front schools. These were part of the issues raised today and we will dissect them and take them one after the other.”


Rafiu Ajakaye
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
September 14, 2022

PRESS STATEMENT
July 11, 2022.

THE NATIONAL YOUTH LEADER OF THE ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS CELEBRATES SEN. KASHIM SHETTIMA.

Hon. Dayo Israel heartily facilitate with His Excellency Senator Kashim Shettima on his emergence as the running mate to the next president of Nigeria Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu who has once again demonstrated that he always work with the best people.
His Excellency Senator Kashim Shettima is a Patriotic, Youth friendly, Loyal, erudite and young industrious Nigerian with his facts and figures at all times and has written his name in gold before now.

Hon. Dayo Israel applaud Our incoming President Asiwaju for chosing competence over sentiments and he unequivocally believes Senator Kashim Shettima will not only carry the youths on his shoulders but will play a very key role in making our economy one of the best in the world.

The APC national Youth leader is calling on every well meaning Nigerian especially all Members of the All Progressives Congress to fully support the Tinubu/Shettima ticket for a greater Nigeria. Let us come together and spread greatness.


Nwaorisa Gerald Chinonso

Communications Assistant to the APC National Youth Leader

Justice for Deborah..

May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace

I believe the criticism will reduce now that it has been revealed that Osinbajo presided over the meeting where the railway security contract was rejected as Buhari was at the UN.

But then the VP had a good reason to reject it. The company had a turnover of 80m but wanted a contract of 3 Billion.

Also their proposal was vague and they could not show they did such before. Sometimes when you don't have the full story you judge people wrongly. Nigerians are not interested in the full story, we like to shout "bad leadership" up and down without context.

I am even sure Buhari would have approved based on his attitude of trusting too much. But Osinbajo was right. Things have to be done properly.

In leadership sometimes doing things properly will even cost some in lives, that is how terrible leadership is! You may mean well but your due process may lead to casualties. This is exactly why we must pray for our leaders rather than curse them.

We may raise questions as to if there was bidding. As to if this was the right company to push. As to the timing of getting something better. And this is what I advocate for. If we must criticize it should be specific so that next time it does not happen again. To lump everything under bad leadership and curse out whoever is President is unproductive and useless. ~Eseoghene Al-Faruq Ohwojeheri

Osinbajo has been a loyal fellow over time

This dude is widely accepted.

Why are you always sounding unintelligent? You can never attain a position the duo are occupying today, you're such a nuisance.

Interesting days are coming

Ya Allah, let this man be President come 2023

Everybody knows him to be this humble and kind.

orikoku:
Osinbande the erand boy

Which one is your father?

Humility at it peak

Army go soon deal with them

Go well Mr VP

This man is a very loyal dude

Happy birthday to a wonderful leader! You deserve our greatest respect for the lives you have touched and the stability you have brought to our democracy. Thanks for being our greatest asset.

How i wish this man is our president now

They've already had their printed T-shirts to hit the streets and Lunch a Bring Back Our Boys campaign, then donations will start flowing in locally and abroad to support their campaign. Sorry o. If I was in your shoes I would feel same. But I'm not in your shoes.
Our Boys Are Back

You mean those that they were massacred don't have family and friends? Shame on you

phrancys001:
But lekki killings is so real even to the blind except evil hearted APC presidency & co government blood sucking vampires

Shame on CNN..
Agent of Fake News

This is fair enough

This is fair enough.. Kudos to the federal government of Nigeria

Mumu

Kingofum:
All Islamist countries and their allah want trump out but our Christian God Jesus Christ will shame allah and all Islamist


May God shame allah and all Islamist







May God bless Donald J Trump

The kind of good news I want to hear...

We really pray so

......and these are their publishers.. Shame!

Their cheap propaganda can’t dent the good name of Osinbajo. Their hatred for him can’t taint his integrity. The earlier they realise that, the sooner they stop wasting their energy. Like him or hate him, Osinbajo will continue to prevail.

Our medias in this country need orientation on how to report some of the matters, even if that man said so, can't you use your common sense, medias causing more damage to the societies

One by one

Osinbajo looking at them right now

May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.. Ameen!