Lagos Govt. Honours Exceptional Teaching, Non-teaching Staff

Folashade Adeniran
Sep, Thu, 2025

Education

Lagos Govt. honours exceptional teaching, non-teaching staff

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By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu

The Lagos State Government has honoured outstanding teaching and non-teaching staff in the Education District III with merit awards and cash gifts.

The Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary, Education District III, Dr Olufunke Oyetola, congratulated the recipients at the 21st Annual Merit Award Ceremony organised by the Lagos State Education District III in Lagos on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the award ceremony has the theme, “Driving Excellence in Education for National Development”.

NAN reports further that Education District III is made up of Ikoyi, Lagos Island, Ibeju Lekki, Epe and Eti-Osa.

The awards given, which include various cash gifts and items, were for the junior and senior secondary schools categories.

Oyetola said the awards presented were for the Best School, Best Teacher, Best Principal, Best HoD, Best Vice-Principal, Best School Support Staff, Best District Staff in the Junior and Senior Schools Categories.

She said the first, second and third positions for best schools in the Junior Category were for the Lagos State Junior Model College, Badore; Elemoro Community Junior Secondary School and Iwerekun Community Junior Secondary School, Lakowe respectively.

“While the first, second and third positions for best schools in Senior Category are the Government Senior College, Epe; Community Senior High School, Lakowe and Epe Senior Grammar School, Epe.

“In the Best Teacher (Junior Category) the first, second and third positions are Mr Samuel Agboola of Girls’ Junior Academy, Lagos Island; Mrs Oluwakemi Ogundipe of Okesuna Juinor High School, Lagos Island and Mrs Temitope Gbodi of Epe Junior Grammar School, Epe.

“While in the Senior Category, the overall best teacher is Olamide Olaniyi of Magbon Alade Senior Grammar School; the second position is Olusegun Olusola of Lagos State Senior Model College, Agbowa and third, Abiodun Tijani of Lafiaji Senior High School,” she said.

The tutor-general said the awards were for teaching and non-teaching staff that had made significant contributions to the teaching profession in the state.

Oyetola said the honour bestowed on them was in line with Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu “THEMES+ Agenda” for the huge investment in the Education Sector of the state.

She noted that the event highlighted the remarkable talents, dedication and hard work of individuals who have gone above and beyond in their respective areas.

The tutor-general said today they celebrated not just their success but also the passion and perseverance that had brought them here.

He said: “To all teaching and non-teaching staffers, we know that your impact extends far beyond the confines of the classroom. You shape the minds and hearts of your students, instill values and inspire dreams.

“Your dedication, hard work and commitment to work has earned our schools, Education District, and Lagos State Government direct awards and rewards both at the state and national levels.”

Oyetola also announced six best staff in the education district which are Temitope Odetunde, Adekunle Yunus and Mrs Oluwatoyin Atobajeun, among others.

Alhaji Kamal Bayewu, the Chairman, Lagos State Local Government Service Commission, commended Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for increasing the budgetary allocation to the Education Sector Year-on-Year (YoY);

Bayewu said the teachers were the builders of dreams, the bearers of knowledge, and the guardians of the future.

According to him, the legacy of the state government is not just in the subjects the teachers have taught, but in the lives they have touched and the dreams they have nurtured.

Also speaking, Prof. Mary Odukoya, a Professor of Environmental Geochemistry/Medical Geology, University of Lagos, said examination malpractice was not just an educational crime but a national crime against development.

Odukoya, who is the Guest Lecturer, said to drive true excellence, the state government must build a system where honesty was celebrated, hard work rewarded, and teachers are unwavering role models of integrity.

“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, as we celebrate our teachers today, we must also confront a painful reality that threatens the very foundation of educational excellence -examination malpractice.

“Sadly, this menace is no longer restricted to desperate students alone. Increasingly, we hear troubling accounts of a few teachers and school officials.

“These personnel, instead of upholding the noble ethics of our profession, have compromised integrity by encouraging malpractice sometimes for financial gain, sometimes under pressure, and sometimes due to a weakened value system.

“When teachers, the very custodians of knowledge, aid students to cheat, we do not only destroy individual character – we also destroy the moral fabric of the nation.

“A student who cheats today, with the blessing of an unethical teacher, may one day become a doctor who cheats patients, an engineer who cuts corners,” she said.

Speaking on behalf of the awardees, the best teacher (Senior Category) Mr Olamide Olaniyi of Magbon Alade Senior Grammar school thanked the state government for rewarding their achievement.

Olaniyi urged the state government to renew its resolve to drive excellence in education for national development.

“Let us continue to build schools that ignite curiosity. Let us train teachers who inspire greatness.

“Let us continue to foster policies that empower innovation and create a society where the teacher is honored, the learner is equipped, and the nation is transformed,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Christiana Fadare

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