Thirteen teachers and school administrators were honoured with brand new cars with other prizes as Lagos State celebrated 2021 Annual Teachers’ Merit Award on Wednesday.
The winners are: Adenike Ojo, Adeola Adefemi, Bolanle Alamu, Fausat Adegeye, Folashade Oyedeji, Lukman Agbabiaka, Michael Ayoola Olubukola Dosumu, Olusegun Muftau, Oluseyi Amao, Omolayo Fadayomi, Soji Megbowon and Yahya Adesokan.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the aim of the event is to promote merit and encourage healthy competition among their teachers.
According to him, “Today has been an eventful day for me and the state. Earlier today, we inaugurated the Vetland Junior International School, Agege which is the first modular, digitized school in the country. Our focus on education is in line with our belief that education is the fulcrum that would ensure a better society. Today’s event is to promote merit and encourage healthy competition among our teachers.
When we held the first edition last year, some people thought it was a fluke. Last year we gave out salon cars but now we are giving out 13 brand new sport utility vehicles. Recognising teachers is to help promote world class education in our state. I am happy to tell you that our huge investment in EkoEXCEL has been justified by the evaluation that was done.
Over 15,000 teachers have been skilled up through local and international training. Also, our performance in WAEC exam has improved. In 2020, we had 38.79%, but in 2021, we had 81% which is inclusive of credit passes in English and Mathematics. We are not expecting anything less this year.
In February this year, we started the Comprehensive High School programme with 12 schools and we want the figure to hit at least 50 this year. The programme is meant to set our students on their career paths. We will continue to increase budgetary allocations to education and take the welfare of teachers as priority. “
The Guest Speaker, Mr Gbenga Oyebode, who also doubles as the Chairman, Teach for Nigeria, enjoined teachers to stay updated and that education has taken a new form since the emergence of with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folashade Adefisayo also commended Sanwo-Olu for fulfiling his promise of rewarding the teachers. She mentioned that although 3,529 applications were received, only 22 got to the semi final stage.
To further buttress that, the Chairman, Nomination Committee, Mrs Lai Koiki, explained that the applications were screened at four different stages with the exercise done transparently.
She also said that two of last year’s winners forged abroad to receive national and international honours.
