The Oyo State government has warned tresspassers against the encroachment of landed properties belonging to public schools across the state.

The Commissioner for Education Science and Technology, Prof. Abdulwaheed Adelabu gave the warning during a routine check at St. Agnes Basic School, Iluju, Ogbomoso, on Friday in Oyo State.

The commissioner decried the alarming rate at which the premises and properties of the school, has been encroached upon by a neighbouring church and landgrabbers.

“Government’s policies on encroachment on land still remains the same. Encroachment of any nature will not be entertained by the Oyo State Government”, he said.

He emphasised that environment of learning was supposed to be totally void of any form of distraction.

The Commissioner stressed the need to go back to the basics and enforce discipline in order to bring about quality education in the state.

He directed the Education Secretary, Oriire Local Government, to ensure proper investigation into the matter and report back to the Ministry, through the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board.

In a related development, Prof. Adelabu has urged Head teachers of the 21 Better Education Service Delivery For All (BESDA) Public Primary schools to put in innovative measures in the day-to-day administration of their schools.

The Commissioner said this today during a series of meeting with some BESDA focused school head teachers in the State.

Stressing the importance of basic education to any country, Prof. Adelabu said most Development partners, focus more on suporting the primary education in the country.

The Commissioner, who thanked all teachers for their support to the Governor Seyi Makinde led administration, said the State Government will not relent in its efforts to make basic education sub-sector more attractive for better education.

Speaking earlier, the Executive Secretary, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Mr. Jacob Dairo warned against illegal collection of fees, adding that it is totally prohibited in Oyo State.

Local governments the visiting team, led by the Commissioner; the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Adeniyi Olusanjo and top management team of OYOSUBEB visited include, Iseyin; Saki West; Igboho; Oriire; Oyo-West among others.

……Says every child deserved to be educated and not just education, but good education.

…… Charges that education should be taken seriously as the children are the leaders of tomorrow.

The Executive Chairman of Agege Local Government Area, High Chief Ganiyu Kolawole Egunjobi, has fulfilled one of his promises as he gave out over 40,000 writing materials. The written materials were given to pupils of the elementary schools in the Council Area.

The Council Mayor, who doubles as the Vice Chairman, Conference of Chairmen/Chairpersons, Lagos West District, said that every child deserved to be educated and not just education, but good education, adding that education should be taken seriously as the children are the leaders of tomorrow.

The Executive Chairman, who was ably represented by the Special Adviser on Environment, Information and Civic Engagement, Mr. Olayiwola Rasheed Jebba Hamilton, at Saint Saviour Primary School, Oniwaya, Agege, stressed in an interview with journalists that the Lagos State Government has also made it a priority to put laws in place that would make every parent to be responsible in that regard, saying that the gesture was the Chairman’s contribution in support of the policy. “I am excited about it and I know we will make an impact in Lagos State. We are lucky to have been blessed with children. For me, children are the most precious gifts and blessings and I cherish every moment I spend with them. I am using this opportunity to wish every pupils best of luck in their academic, remembering every child is your child,” he said.

Mr. Jebba Hamilton, who is a Patron of the Yellow House in the school reiterated that the writing materials were distributed so that each pupils had at least five exercise books to themselves in order to further their education, by relieving some financial burden from their parents, so that they could invest in other aspects of their children’s education.

“It should be noted that Egunjobi led administration has been giving qualitative representation for the people and he has been making possible efforts to be seen and heard as at when necessary. As you can see, the pupils and the management were very pleased to receive the materials”, he noted.

Mrs Akingbehin O.O, on behalf of the Head Teacher and Management and Idowu Esther with Onyemachi Chidera Grace, on behalf of the pupils, appreciated the efforts of the Executive Chairman for taking Education as priority and prayed for the successful tenure of his administration.

The Lagos State University (LASU) in an obvious move to preserve Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage, has announced the inclusion of Yoruba Language as a compulsory course for all its students.

The new course added to the school’s curriculum from the 2023/2024 academic session is titled GNS 104 (Yoruba Language Studies).

LASU’s decision to introduce this course aligns with the broader national effort to preserve Nigeria’s diverse linguistic and cultural heritage.

The course, Yoruba Language Studies, is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the Yoruba language, one of Nigeria’s prominent indigenous languages.

It aims to equip students with language skills, cultural knowledge, and historical context, fostering a deeper appreciation for the Yoruba culture.

Speaking on the development, Professor T.M Salisu, the Dean of LASU Faculty of Arts and Humanities, expressed his enthusiasm for the introduction of the course. He emphasized its potential to strengthen students’ connections to their roots and promote cultural diversity.

“GNS 104 will not only enhance language proficiency but also encourage a more profound understanding of the Yoruba people, their customs, and traditions,” he stated.

The Yoruba Language Studies course will cover various aspects of Yoruba culture, including language structure, literature, history, folklore, and contemporary issues.

It will be open to students from all faculties as part of the General Nigerian Studies (GNS) program, reflecting LASU’s commitment to interdisciplinary learning.

Recall that the Lagos state assembly in conscious efforts to preserve Yoruba culture, heritage, and the use of the language in public places passed a bill in 2017 that made teaching of Yoruba compulsory for all schools in the state.

The assembly early this year also started using the Yoruba language for legislative activities.