Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has been honoured by the Federal Government as the Best Governor in Education in Nigeria.
Governor Aiyedatiwa received the Special Recognition Award from the Federal Ministry of Education at the 2026 World Teachers’ Day Commemoration held at the Eagle Square, Abuja.
In his acceptance speech, the governor expressed appreciation to the Federal Ministry of Education, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmad, and other stakeholders for making the celebration a worthy one.
He dedicated the honour to teachers across Ondo State, describing their daily sacrifices as foundational to the development of the state.
Governor Aiyedatiwa, who disclosed that he had previously been a teacher, said the experience remained an important part of his understanding of governance and the responsibility of standing before young minds to make knowledge meaningful to them.
According to him, education remains a long-term investment in the character, capacity and productive strength of the people of Ondo State, adding that the conviction is firmly embedded in his administration’s seven-pillar OUR EASE development agenda.
The governor said his administration had focused on expanding access, improving quality, strengthening the teaching profession, modernising learning environments and preparing young people for a rapidly changing future.
He disclosed that more than 2,100 teachers were recruited into primary and secondary schools in 2025, while the government continues to invest in professional development, including digital and pedagogical training, climate-smart instructional programmes and quality-assurance capacity.
Governor Aiyedatiwa said 43 new classroom blocks were constructed in 2025 at a cost of about N3.1 billion, while 75 schools underwent complete renovation.
He added that 8,500 learners’ furniture and 1,200 teachers’ furniture were procured, alongside sports equipment, textbooks and other learning materials.
According to him, learning resources worth more than N150 million were distributed across the three senatorial districts, while computer textbooks were provided to learners in all 18 local government areas.
He said the 2026 budget also provided for further construction and rehabilitation of basic schools, stressing that rebuilding education is a continuous process.
Beyond basic and secondary education, Governor Aiyedatiwa said his administration had approved the establishment of a College of Nursing at Igbokoda and a College of Education at Aboto, expanding opportunities for professional and teacher education.
The governor also said teachers’ salaries and allowances had been paid regularly, while the government continues to defray inherited gratuity arrears owed to retired public servants, with retired teachers constituting a significant proportion of the beneficiaries.
“This is not merely a fulfilment of an obligation; it is a message to those still in service that government remembers their sacrifice and that their future is secure,” he said.
He disclosed that N633.9 million was paid in 2026 for WAEC registration of 23,048 students in public schools, while NABTEB examinations were also fully sponsored.
The governor said N350 million and N400 million were committed to bursary and scholarship support for tertiary students in 2025 and 2026 respectively, while OSOPADEC provided N286.7 million in bursaries to 4,837 students.
He said the government had also recognised outstanding academic performance, including students who excelled in the 2026 UTME and those who distinguished themselves in national and international competitions.
Governor Aiyedatiwa said his administration is embracing digital education through partnerships, including its collaboration with EIDU, which had introduced AI-powered learning tools, smartphones and structured literacy programmes.
He added that digital literacy initiatives had placed thousands of tablets in public schools, while computer laptops are being provided to digitally trained teachers as part of preparations for Robotics, Artificial Intelligence and other emerging technologies.
The governor said the theme of the celebration, “Protecting and Advancing the Status of the Teaching Profession in a Rapidly Changing World”, spoke directly to the state’s experience.
“If we truly desire a knowledge-driven society, we must give teachers the tools to teach, the environment to work, the dignity they deserve and the opportunity to continually renew their knowledge,” he said.
