As part of activities marking his 10th coronation anniversary, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo Kingdom, Oba Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, Emugoriade I has sponsored a free Computer-Based Test (CBT) training for 500 Senior Secondary School (SS3) students across the community.

The one-day workshop, themed 10 Years of Royal Excellence with Knowledge – Free CBT Training for 500 SS3 Students, was held on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at HOMAT CBT Centre in Igbogbo, Lagos.

The initiative, organised as a precursor to the monarch’s 10th anniversary celebrations, brought together students from six public secondary schools, including Zumratul Islamiyah Grammar School, Community Secondary School, Bayeku, Lagos State Model Girls College, Agunfoye, Reri Secondary School, Oreta, Oreyo Grammar School, and Civil Service Model College.

Participants received hands-on CBT practice, exam strategy coaching, and career guidance aimed at improving their readiness for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and boosting digital literacy.

Addressing the students, Oba Kasali urged them to take full advantage of the opportunity, stressing the importance of preparation in a digital examination era.

“I want to appeal to every one of you that you have this rare opportunity that is put in place to make sure you excel. Make sure you make use of it,” he said.

The monarch warned that mistakes in CBT examinations could be costly, as candidates may have to wait another year to retake the exam.

“Today we are in a digital world; any slight mistake, you have to wait till next year. This is why you should take what you learnt here seriously so you can have a good score,” he added.

He also encouraged students to broaden their academic outlook by exploring various course requirements online and not limiting themselves to their chosen fields alone.

“By next year, we want to celebrate your matriculation,” the royal father said, expressing optimism about the students’ future.

Earlier in his welcome address, former Head of Service, Adesegun Olusola Ogunlewe  described the initiative as a testament to the monarch’s commitment to education and youth development.

“In the history of Igbogbo Kingdom, this is special because God has blessed us with a royal father who has a heart for sound education,” he said.

Ogunlewe noted that the programme goes beyond academic performance, serving as a platform to promote excellence among students from low-income backgrounds.

“It is not only about merit-making, but it is utilised as a platform for promoting academic excellence among our zero-income secondary school students,” he stated.

He commended the Oba Kasali Royal Foundation for investing in human capacity development and expressed hope for continued progress in the kingdom.

“Today’s event is a clear testament to the visionary and forward-looking leadership that Igbogbo has witnessed in the past 10 years,” he added.

Delivering a goodwill message, the Chairman of Igbogbo Local Council Development Area, Ahmed Olamilekan Aroyewun encouraged the students to remain resilient and not be afraid of failure.

“There is a popular proverb that says any child that is afraid to fail will never walk. If you want to walk, there must be an attempt,” he said.

Aroyewun disclosed that the council had put incentives in place to reward academic excellence, including grants for high-performing students.

“Any one of you that scores 300 and above will receive a special grant. If you perform well in your JAMB, your admission process will be supported with all the logistics,” he said.

He added that special arrangements had been made for students interested in professional courses such as medicine, law, and engineering.

Dignitaries at the event included former Chairman of Igbogbo LCDA, Hon Sesan Daini; Tutor-General and Permanent Secretary, Education District II, Omotayo Sanni; and Chief Executive Officer of HOMAT Group of Schools, Chief Amusa Mohammed Tairu, among others.

The CBT training is one of several activities lined up to commemorate the monarch’s 10th year on the throne.