The incumbent Chairman of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Ganiyu Sopeyin and his board members deserve accolades for the innovative styles they have adopted to run the affairs of SUBEB which is responsible for administering the entire primary schools in the state.
This newspaper has been working with previous chairmen and board members but the activities and achievements of this present board headed by Dr. Sopeyin deserves special mention and commendation.
Since the past two years of this board, revolutionary steps have taken place not only in terms of infrastructural improvements but also the quality of the teachers.
Taking a cue from Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and determined to support his momentum of governance, SUBEB has been renovating, upgrading school facilities and also improving the state of the teaching/non-teaching staff. Buildings, classrooms, working tools, and staff motivations have all been upgraded. No doubt, they (the board) could not have achieved such without adequate financial support from Governor Ambode.
Although, past SUBEB boards organized end of year/award ceremonies but Dr. Sopeyin’s board elevated this prize giving event by organizing a befitting end of the year party for the head teachers to appreciate their contributions to the educational development in the state’s primary schools.
Earlier, the chairman and board members had organized the annual Teachers’ Prize Giving Day on ………………… where a brand new Toyota car worthy N10million was given to the best head teacher in the state for the first time in the history of the event while the best teacher was given a Toyota Camry.
Meanwhile, the colourful end of year party, which was held at the Grandeur Event Center, Oregun, and attended by beautifully dressed head teachers, their staff members and stakeholders, was presided over by the representatives of the Deputy Governor and First lady of the State alongside SUBEB chairman.
On Tuesday, December 19, 2017, organized an impressive end of year party for Primary School Head Teachers in appreciation and recognition of their commitment and dedication to duty in 2017.
Although, the event is an annual rite in the annal of SUBEB but since the inception of its sitting Chairman, Alhaji (Dr.) Ganiu Sopeyin, the event has witnessed tremendous turnaround and this year’s edition was not different as it recorded massive improvement in terms of organization, attendance, venue and entertainment. The head teachers, their staff members and well-wishers, some of whom spoke with Oriwu Sun echoed this feat as they commended Dr. Sopeyin and his team for a job well done.
The memorable event was held at the exquisite hall of the Grandeur Event Centre located along Billings way, Oregun, Ikeja, and had the impressive attendance of top State Government functionaries, SUBEB Board members, Executive Secretaries of Local Government Education Authority (LGEAs), representatives of the Lagos State branch of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) and Association of Nigerian Colleges and Secondary Schools Principal, primary School head teachers and teachers as well as other stakeholders in the state’s primary school education.
The head teachers, who were the celebrants of the day, alongside their respective staff members from the twenty (20) LGEAs in the state, were looking exceptionally radiant in their various colourful native attires which added more frills to the ambience atmosphere that pervaded the hall beautifully decorated to reflect the mood of the day.
Also, the tables and chairs were neatly arranged and tagged to ensure easy sitting arrangement for the LGEA’ delegations and other guests while the corporately dressed service attendants of the ‘Double Portions Caterers’ were at their best all through the event, serving various delectable delicacies and chilled assorted drinks to everyone in the hall.
The event was masterly compered by Busola Kukoyi, the eloquent TV presenter from Lagos Television while a Juju band, led by Shina Oluga, provided music at every interlude to ensure there was no dull moment.
Meanwhile, SUBEB Chairman, Dr. Sopeyin, in his welcome address, said the event was organized to appreciate and celebrate Primary school Head Teachers for their dedication, loyalty and commitment to duty in 2017.
He thanked the governor of the state, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, for his unflinching support and encouragement on various reforms and transformation that have taken place in the state’s Education sector, particularly at the Basic Education level, stating that the reforms have moved Basic Education in the state forward to greater height.
He reassured the primary school managers and the gathering that the successes recorded by SUBEB under his leadership would not slow the board down but would rather spur it to do greater exploits in the Basic Education sector.
While assuring the primary school head teachers and teachers that his administration would continue to advocate and improve on issues concerning their welfare packages, he charged them to do more in improving the standard of basic education in Lagos State by being imaginative and creative in order to outsmart other competitors and also to acknowledge the efforts of the Ambode administration which according to him, has always been acceding to their requests.
The SUBEB chairman also thanked the Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Adebule and the First Lady, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, for their supports for the board at all times.
More so, he commended the victorious male and female football teams of SUBEB for winning the 2017 Head of Service Football Competition.
The representative of the Deputy Governor, Mr. Adesina Odeyemi who is the permanent secretary, office of the Civil Engagement, in his brief address, apologized for the unavoidable absence of the Deputy Governor due to pressing state issues.
He explained that the Deputy Governor acknowledges the hardwork of teachers in the state which is reflected in the upward performance of school children in both primary and secondary schools across the state, adding that since 2015, students in Lagos State Secondary Schools have been recording improved performances in external examinations, particularly in the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) and urged them to redouble their efforts and remained committed to their responsibilities so that Lagos State can continue to attain excellence in education sector.
While assuring the teachers that he would convey all their demands at the event to the Deputy Governor, Mr. Odeyemi revealed that the cash and bus gifts which the state government promised them during the World Teacher’s Day Celebration are ready and would soon be delivered to them.
Also, the First lady, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, in her address which was read by her representative, Mrs. Kemi Durosinmi-Etti, congratulated the head teachers and stated that they deserve the honour being accorded them due to their hardwork and commitment to duty.
She commended SUBEB for being a pacesetter in Nigeria on issues concerning basic education, adding that their performances, have greatly complimented the efforts of the state government in the area of provision of education infrastructure in the state’s primary schools while also acknowledging the huge contributions of the board which she said have successfully raised the standard of basic education and made Lagos State the cynosure of all eyes and a worthy example to follow.
To the celebrants, the first lady commended them for their sacrifice and hardwork in 2017 and urged them to put move efforts in the coming years to further improve primary education in the state.
She stated that the academic destinies of school children lie in the hands of the primary school head teachers and their staff members, thereby urging them to owe it a duty to make the children the be
st among their peers by rededicating themselves to work and improve on their professional approach to teaching to attain further excellence.
Earlier at the event, there were Goodwill Messages by some stakeholders in education sector of the state.
First to speak was the chairman of the Association of Public Secondary School Principals in Lagos State, Pastor Olatunde Isaac. He explained that students that have been enrolling in secondary schools across the state lately from the public primary schools have been of standard quality and attributed this to the hardwork of the head teachers and their staff members.
He commended Dr. Sopeyin and his team for sustaining and improving the standard of the annual end of year party for the primary school managers and expressed confidence that the celebrants would reciprocate the gesture by performing better in 2018.
In her own goodwill message, the Association of Primary School Head Teachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON) chairman, Lagos State Wing, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Edu, praised God for sparing their lives to witness yet another edition of the event being organized to celebrate them.
She stated that event such as the annual end of the year party is a proof that the rewards of teachers are not only in heaven but also here on earth and thanked the state government and SUBEB for allowing the event to hold every year consistently.
Mrs. Edu said that at the 2016 edition of the party, she promised that there would be improvement in the management, learning and teaching in the public primary schools this year and that the result of the primary six pupils in the 2017 common entrance examination is an evident of the fulfilment of that promise.
She once again assured that she and her colleagues would redouble their efforts and also be accountable and prudent in the management of the state’s primary schools for better performance next year.
She also applauded the various sterling achievements of Governor Ambode’s administration in the state’s education sector among which are provision of infrastructures in schools, establishment of new schools, renovation of schools, promotion, training and retraining of teachers, improved security in school and prompt payment of teachers’ salaries.
Also, the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers, Lagos State branch, Comrade Adesegun Raheem, while delivering his own goodwill message commended Governor Ambode for his exemplary commitment to the development of the state’s education sector, stating that his ability to always listen and maintain cordial relationship with the union is the reason there has not been industrial disharmony in the state since his assumption of office.
He said the collaboration which the union is currently having with the Ambode’s administration is the best they have ever had with any government in the state and urged the teachers to appreciate the governor’s effort by being more dedicated and committed to their duties.
He also commended the emergence of Dr. Sopeyin as SUBEB chairman, stating that his brilliant understanding of primary education has brought tremendous succor to teachers and primary education in the state since he assumed office.
Comrade Raheem thanked the governor for giving approval to the union’s demand that primary school teachers who are graduates must attain level 17 in the service and also for given a brand new saloon car to the best head teacher in the state this year for the first time.
And while assuring that the Union would continue to support the state government in its efforts to improve education in the state, the NUT chairman urged the present administration to employ more teachers to replace those that have retired and also fulfil all its promises to the teachers, especially those made during the World Teachers’ Day Celebration.
The event also featured the recognition of the male and female football teams of SUBEB which emerged winners of the 2017 Head of Service Football competitions.
The victorious players, who were dressed in light blue track suits, made triumphant entry into the hall displaying their trophies while the gathering received them with standing ovation and thunderous applause as the Juju band on the band stand dished out praise songs to usher them to the hightable where they were decorated with medals and certificates in honour of their galant feats.
The climax of the event was the cutting of the End of Year Party cake by the SUBEB chairman with the support of the representatives of the Deputy Governor and First Lady and other guests on the hightable.
At exactly 2:15p.m, the curtain was drawn with the vote of thanks by Mrs. Abosede Adelaja, SUBEB secretary after which Dr. Sopeyin led other dignitaries to the dance floor to declare the dance session open.
