Ekiti gov’s wife, UI ex-VC task young teachers on dedication, resilience

Duo bag NAEAP fellowship awards

Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji and a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), Prof. Idowu Olayinka, yesterday, urged young teachers and lecturers to be dedicated and resilient in the training of the next generation of teachers and policymakers to move the country forward.

Oyebanji and Olayinka gave the charge during the 43rd yearly conference of the Nigerian Association for Educational Administration and Planning (NAEAP), themed “Navigating Challenges in Educational Innovations and Leadership in Nigeria,” which took place at the Trenchard Hall of the university.

The wife of the governor, who is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Education of the premier university, was conferred with a Fellowship of NAEAP, while Olayinka was given Honorary Fellowship.

Oyebanji, who spoke after the conferment, said she was delighted for being conferred with the highest honour in her profession. She, therefore, urged young teachers and lecturers to be more committed and resilient in training the next generation.

On his part, Olayinka, who expressed his happiness with the award and the recognition of his contributions in education administration, called on young teachers and lecturers to continue to do their best in training the next generation of teachers and policy-makers in the educational sector.

The former VC said: ”It is an honorary fellowship. It underscores the little contribution one has made in educational administration in Nigeria.
”My message to young lecturers and teachers is to continue to do their best to train the next generation of teachers and policymakers in the educational sector.” Olayinka urged the government at all levels to provide an enabling environment for education in the country.

He said: ”A country is as good as the quality of education it can offer its citizens.” In his lecture, a distinguished NAEAP Fellow, Prof. Joel Babalola, called on educational administrators to stop lamentation and address the challenges in the sector.