By Julius Peter, Abuja
The Ondo State Commissioner for Special Duties, Erelu Taibat Yemi Oloruntoba, has commended the education initiatives of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, describing the administration’s interventions in the sector as a source of pride to the people of the state.
Oloruntoba said the recognition received by the governor for his contribution to education was an indication of the administration’s commitment to improving the quality of education and supporting teachers and learners across Ondo State.
The commissioner stated this on Monday in Abuja during the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration, organised to honour teachers and highlight their contributions to national development.
The 2026 celebration was held under the theme: “Standing with Teachers: 60 Years of Protecting the Profession, Advancing the Status and Shaping Our Futures.” The theme marked the 60th anniversary of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers.
Oloruntoba said she was particularly proud of being part of the Aiyedatiwa administration, noting that the governor’s interventions in education had covered several areas, including support for teachers, pupils and students, scholarships, school infrastructure and payment of examination fees.
According to her, the recognition of Governor Aiyedatiwa for his contribution to education should encourage the state government to sustain its investments in the sector.
“Our governor received an award on education as the best promoting governor on education in Nigeria. It is a thing of pride for us,” she said.
She listed what she described as some of the administration’s major interventions in the education sector, including initiatives targeted at teachers and pupils, scholarship awards, construction and renovation of schools and payment of West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE/WAEC) fees for eligible students.
Oloruntoba said the initiatives demonstrated the administration’s recognition of education as a critical foundation for the development of the state and the future of its young people.
She added that efforts aimed at reducing the financial burden on parents and students, particularly through examination-fee support and scholarship opportunities, were important in ensuring that children from less-privileged backgrounds were not denied access to education.
The commissioner also commended teachers for their dedication to duty, stressing that no meaningful transformation could take place in the education sector without the commitment and sacrifices of educators.
She said the World Teachers’ Day celebration provided an opportunity not only to appreciate teachers but also to draw attention to the need for continued investment in their welfare, professional development and working conditions.
The global observance of World Teachers’ Day takes place annually on October 5 and commemorates the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, which established international benchmarks concerning teachers’ rights, responsibilities, preparation, recruitment and working conditions. The 2026 observance specifically focuses on protecting and advancing the status of the teaching profession.
Oloruntoba said the progress recorded in Ondo’s education sector should be seen as a collective achievement involving the government, teachers, parents, pupils, students and other stakeholders.
She expressed appreciation to Governor Aiyedatiwa for what she described as his commitment to education, saying the administration’s interventions had given stakeholders reasons to remain hopeful about the future of the sector.
“All those achievements that our governor has made is a thing of pride, and I’m very proud to be part of such administration. Kudos to my governor, Governor Olumide,” she said.
The commissioner’s comments came against the backdrop of the national and global focus on the welfare, dignity and professional status of teachers during the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration.
The Federal Government’s 2026 World Teachers’ Day programme also included the President’s Teachers’ and Schools’ Excellence Awards, a national recognition platform designed to honour outstanding teachers, school administrators and schools for excellence, innovation, professionalism and contributions to improved educational outcomes. The national ceremony was held at Eagle Square, Abuja, on October 5.
Oloruntoba’s appointment as Commissioner for Special Duties is part of the restructuring of the Ondo State Government’s administrative team under Governor Aiyedatiwa. The governor nominated her from Akoko North-West Local Government Area in August 2026, and she was subsequently sworn in as Commissioner for Special Duties in September.
The commissioner said the administration would continue to support policies and programmes capable of improving educational outcomes and creating better opportunities for children and young people in the state.
She urged stakeholders to continue working together to strengthen the education system, noting that teachers remained central to the development of human capital and the building of a productive society.
The 2026 World Teachers’ Day theme, she added, was a timely reminder that celebrating teachers should go beyond ceremonies and awards to include sustained efforts to protect their professional status, improve their welfare and provide the resources required for effective teaching and learning.
