Strive for excellence, Lagos quality assurance boss, Soyombo, urges teachers

Director General, Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA), Lagos State, , has urged public and private school teachers in the state to make excellence their watchword in order to achieve effective teaching and learning.

She gave the charge at the retirement ceremony of the former Director, Quality Assurance Department, Mrs. Patricia Aziakpono Enase. The ceremony was at the behest of the Tutor General/Permanent Secretary and Staff of Education District III, Lagos State Ministry of Education.

When children are well taught and exposed to the rudiments of learning, Soyombo said, they would be able to attain loftier heights in their future endeavours.

She said it was with this mandate in sight that the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration tasked the OEQA and education districts to ensure students were trained with the 21st century requirements.

“And so, this occasion is an opportunity for me to enjoin you all to continue to strive for excellence despite the challenges, which I know are numerous. We can all partner with government, improvise with the scarce resources and give the best to the Nigerian child,” Soyombo stated.

She continued, “I know that teaching is a tedious job, but it is also the noblest profession in the world, and as such, it is a great privilege to find you all among the great profession.”

She said as the regulatory body for both public and private schools in the state working, the agency was ready to work together with other stakeholders to achieve set objectives.

The OEQA boss described the retiree as a “wonderful, amiable, hard working and passionate woman, whose commitment to duty was without equal.”

She commended her for putting 35 active years into servicing education in the state, praying that she would live long to reap more fruits of her labour.

She said, “Enase is very passionate about education in Lagos state. Her key word is maintaining standard at all times. She is someone who will not settle for something less for her children. She is always aiming for the best; she is an exemplary leader that everybody want to emulate her in all quality assurance offices.”

Meanwhile, the Tutor General/Permanent Secretary of the district, Mr. Yinka Olaniyi, who said the retiree ended her career on a very good note, challenged teachers to “emulate the simplicity and character of Mrs. Enase.”

In her response, Enase appreciated the state government for providing her the opportunity and enabling environment to get to the peak of her career, adding that the journey, though tedious and tasking, was very fulfilling.

“And so, now I feel relaxed. All glory to God. I can wake anytime I like and sleep when I want to sleep, no more stress and that is enough for me,” she said.