Osun SUBEB Boss Bags OAU Award Of Excellence

….dedicates award to Osun students, Ooni of Ife

The Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife on Wednesday honoured the Permanent Secretary, State Universal Basic Education Board, (SUBEB), Osun State, Alhaji Fatai Adesina Kolawole, with an Award of Excellence.

The award was bestowed on him by the faculty of social sciences of the university during a distinguished guest lecture titled “The place of social sciences and the humanities in Nigeria’s National Development” held Oduduwa hall.

CityMirrorNews reports that Professor Jacob Kehinde Olupona, a professor of African American Studies, Harvard University, the United States of America, was the guest speaker.

In his acceptance speech, Alhaji Kolawole said he considered the award as a rare privilege for being honoured with some of the political leaders in the southwest including the Governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola, who he described as his mentor and political leader.

He expressed his deep conviction that a lot has been achieved in the school’s infrastructure and renewal programme in that State but didn’t expect it to attract much attention especially from a reputable and highly revered university like OAU as he considered it a mere service to the State.

“As an Educationist and top Bureaucrat who has been at the helm of affairs of a critical sector of the State Educational Industry in the last few years, I know a lot has been achieved with respect to this State’s Schools Infrastructure renewal programme.

“But even then, I thought all the achievements recorded were mere service to our dear State which ordinarily should not attract much attention from any organistion, especially in the academia and particularly in the highly revered Obafemi Awolowo University”

“Apart from being an Alumnus of this great Citadel of Learning, I am aware that an array of intellectual gurus and egg-heads of international repute abound in the Faculty of Social Sciences.

“Hence, such awards cannot be for personal glorification but a genuine recognition of excellence in service delivery in our State, the fulfillment of the vision of egalitarianism and the accomplishment of human capital development”

Kolawole gave all the credit in the education sector in the State to Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, former Governor of the State and the current helmsman, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, who he said built an enduring platform for the continued growth and development of Basic Education in the State.

“It is germane to state that within the last ten (10) years, the State of Osun’s Political Leaders has built an enduring platform for the continued growth and development of Basic Education in the State. Their visionary efforts have, among others, ranging from Physical Infrastructure and Regular Teachers Professional Development activities to deepened Quality Assurance Measures in all schools”

“Their visionary efforts have, among others, ranging from Physical Infrastructure and Regular Teachers Professional Development activities to deepened Quality Assurance Measures in all schools. These were all geared towards ensuring that our products who form the major intakes of the other higher levels of education are up to the expected standard in academic pursuits, character, and cultural consciousness”

“I want to specially appreciate the two helmsmen whom God has used to change the face of education and raise the bar of accomplishment in both Basic and post-Basic Education in the State within the last ten years. First was the enigmatic Former Governor and the Present Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola (The Ogbeni of our time) for the enduring foundation laid in the Education Sector, and secondly, the Present Governor, Alhaji Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola who has not only continued to build on the foundation laid but also saw the imperative of making adjustments where necessary in line with the demands of the citizenry”

He, however, dedicated the award to over four hundred and fifty thousand students of elementary and middle schools including the diligent teachers. While the grassroots development side of the award was dedicated to the Ooni of ife, Adeyeye Enitan, Ogunwusi, the second, who he described as a peace ambassador for preaching and working hard to unite and foster harmonious relationships in Yoruba land and beyond.

While stressing the importance of peace as a precursor to uneven development of any society, the Osun SUBEB PS concluded that without peace there won’t be any development.

Also honoured was the Governor of the state, Mr Gboyega Oyetola, who was ably represented by his Special Adviser on Education, Hon Jamiu Olawumi.