Stakeholders in Egbaland have called for collective action and renewed commitment to repositioning the education sector, stressing that the task of reviving the sector could not be left to government alone.
The call was made at the Egba Education Roundtable held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta on Wednesday.
The stakeholders including eminent personalities, traditional rulers, and policymakers gathered to chart a new course for educational advancement in Egbaland and Ogun state at large.
In his remarks, the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, emphasised the importance of continuous engagement among stakeholders to address the multifaceted challenges confronting education.
Gbadebo, who described the roundtable as timely and visionary, explained that government could not singlehandedly tackle the issues in the education sector within a short time.
Also speaking, the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Saka Matemilola, highlighted four crucial pillars for effective learning which included the learner, the teacher, the content, and the environment
Matemilola advocated that learners must be shielded from distractions, while teachers must remain current and well supported to deliver knowledge effectively.
He further stressed that parents must instill sound values at home, while the learning environment must be conducive for intellectual growth.
The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, underscored the centrality of teacher quality in educational outcomes, saying the quality of education could not rise beyond the quality of its teachers.
Arigbabu delivered the keynote address titled: “Repositioning Education as the Bedrock of Egba Development”.
He added that training, retraining, and digital literacy must be prioritised.
The commissioner advocated entrepreneurship and vocational education as integral to modern learning.
” Institutions such as Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) have already began integrating such courses into their curriculum,” he said.
Arigbabu urged increased investment in libraries, laboratories, and infrastructure to enhance learning, reiterating that education must remain a right, not a privilege.
At the end of the deliberations, a communique signed by the Chairman, Planning Committee Prof. Ajao Adelekan, Dr. Adebayo Akintobi Dr. J. A Akintobi , Mr. Richard Uwayzor and
Dr Moses Majekodunmi was issued.
The communique reads: The first edition of the Egba Education RoundTable (EER)tagged “ Advancing Public School Education for Sustainable Development in Egbaland was convened as a strategic platform to engage key stakeholders.
“The roundtable was organised by six non-governmental organisations, examining their various areas of focus in providing educational support to public school students in Egbaland.
“The primary focus of the discussion was to foster dialogue on the state of education in Egbaland, identify challenges and opportunities in the current educational system, as well as develop strategic recommendations for improving access, quality, and equity in education.
” It also focused on mobilising stakeholders (government, community leaders, development partners, and the private sector) towards collaborative action, and stimulate collective ownership of educational development as a driver of socio-economic growth in the division and the State as a whole.
” An Egba Education Advancement Fund, should be established as a collective vehicle to provide infrastructure, bridge gaps;
” Strengthening of School-Based Management Committees comprising CDAs, CDCs, traditional leaders, parents and others;
” Proper mentorship of learners to assist them in succeeding in their various fields of learning among others.
