Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, is expected to deliver a keynote address at the International Education Conference scheduled for February 21, 2025. The one-day event, scheduled to hold at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan (UI), Oyo State, will feature other distinguished speakers, including the Pro Vice-Chancellor of Global Engagement at INTI International University, Prof. Goh Khang Wen; the Vice-Chancellor of UI, Prof. Kayode Adebowale; Managing Director of First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Olusegun Alebiosu; DAAD Programme Officer for Nigeria, Dr. Fortune Agbele, and Executive Adviser to the Oyo State Governor on International cooperation and Development, Dr Debo Akande, and other eminent scholars.
The Host and Partnership Director of the project, Lady Tolu Eledan, who spoke on the event, said this year’s summit, themed ‘Global Mastery, Local Impact: Empowering Minds Through International Education,’ would bring together educators, researchers, policymakers, and global education experts to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and discuss challenges and opportunities in the sector.
Eledan, in a statement made available to The Guardian, said the conference would provide immersive cross-border networking, facilitate the exchange of innovative ideas, empower students with insights into their study pathways, as well as expose professionals to international collaboration opportunities, scholarships, and capacity-building initiatives to enhance the quality of education in Nigeria.She added that the conference would be a transformative event, shaping the future of education at local, national, and global levels.
The summit is expected to drive meaningful discussions that will inform policies, strengthen institutional collaborations, and enhance student mobility across international academic institutions.
Eledan further affirmed that Makinde strongly believes education is the cornerstone of human development and a catalyst for positive change. This commitment has driven him, throughout his six years in office, to exceed UNESCO’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) recommendation on education by allocating over 20 per cent of the state’s budget to education and investing heavily in infrastructure and resources.
Under his leadership, Oyo State has seen significant improvements in school enrollment rates, over 1.5 million out-of-school children have been absorbed into various public schools, teacher training programmes, and the expansion of digital learning initiatives.
As Oyo State continues to be a leading education hub and a top tourist destination—home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Eledan said the governor aims to leverage the conference to attract diaspora investors, strengthen global partnerships, and showcase the state’s achievements in the education sector.
According to her, the event will serve as a platform to highlight the government’s ongoing efforts in modernising education, fostering research-driven policies, and equipping students with globally competitive skills.
