Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to providing quality, functional, and affordable education, describing it as the cornerstone of sustainable development and national progress.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 69th National Council on Education (NCE) meeting held at The Dome, Akure, the governor said education remains a key driver of national renewal, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Aiyedatiwa, who welcomed education stakeholders from across the country, commended the President for expanding access to quality education through initiatives such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, which has benefited more than 624,000 students nationwide.
He said, ‘Quality education data is the foundation of every effective education system. With dependable data, we can track progress, evaluate interventions and ensure that every learner receives functional education.
‘Teaching is one of the oldest and most noble professions, yet it has not received the recognition it deserves. We must restore its dignity by elevating its standards and rewarding merit.’
The governor described the meeting’s theme, ‘Quality Education Data and Professionalisation of Teaching: Tools for Enhanced National Development,’ as both timely and relevant.
He noted that the theme aligns with global education goals under UNESCO’s Education 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4).
Highlighting Ondo State’s strides in education, Aiyedatiwa listed several achievements under his administration, including the annual payment of WASSCE and NABTEB fees for students, recruitment and training of over 2,100 teachers, provision of 8,000 learners’ desks and 6,000 teachers’ furniture, and massive renovation of classrooms, laboratories, and libraries across the state.
He also noted that the state had paid counterpart funds up to 2024 to access UBEC/SUBEB grants, introduced free school shuttle buses and boats, and established a Youth Skills Development Centre with ICT-based training.
According to him, Ondo State currently operates more than 1,285 public primary schools, 315 public secondary schools, and three state-owned universities, reflecting his government’s commitment to access and inclusiveness.
Aiyedatiwa assured that the state would continue to invest in digital learning, teacher development, and STEM/STEAM education to prepare learners for the global knowledge economy.
The governor also lauded the Federal Ministry of Education for hosting the Council meeting in Akure and for its ongoing reforms aimed at digitalising the education sector.
In his remarks, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the federal government has embarked on sweeping reforms to digitise Nigeria’s education system, improve data accuracy, and professionalise teaching in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said the theme of the council meeting reflected the Federal Government’s determination to align Nigeria’s education system with global best practices.
The minister said, ‘Education is not merely a social service; it is a strategic investment. It is the foundation of economic growth, social cohesion, and national stability.
‘Quality education data and professionalised teaching are twin pillars on which sustainable national development rests.’
The Minister disclosed that the Federal Executive Council had approved the establishment of the National Education Repository and Databank (NERD), a digital platform designed to store, verify, and coordinate academic records across the country.
Two major components of the NERD system – the National Credential Verification System (NCVS) and the National Academic Document Digitisation Service – are already operational.
‘The NCVS assigns every certificate a unique National Credential Number and secure QR code for instant verification.
‘These innovations are transforming the integrity of our education system, eliminating certificate fraud and plagiarism, and promoting transparency and global recognition of Nigerian credentials.’
He also announced the rollout of the Digital Nigerian Education Management Information System (DNEMIS), which will digitally capture and track learners from basic to tertiary levels.
‘Twenty-one states have already started uploading their data into the DNEMIS platform, we are working with the National Identity Management Commission to ensure every learner is assigned a National Identification Number,’ he said
He also highlighted the government’s renewed focus on curriculum reform, stating that the Basic and Senior Secondary Education Curricula have been revised to incorporate 21st-century skills such as digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and citizenship education.
He said, ‘We have reduced the number of subjects to make learning more focused and meaningful, with the new curriculum, learning outcomes will rise to meet national expectations.’
In infrastructure development, the Minister revealed that the ministry had built 4,900 classrooms, renovated 3,000, and established 34 model schools within six months, benefiting over 2.3 million learners nationwide.
He added that tertiary education reforms have also progressed, with the establishment of two new Federal Universities of Health Sciences in Zamfara and Ogun States, and the introduction of the Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund (TISSF), through which 9,000 staff have already benefited.
He said, ‘Education is the heartbeat of development, the most powerful weapon for national renewal. Let us ensure that every Nigerian child, from the remotest village in Bayelsa to the largest city in Kano, receives quality education that empowers, uplifts, and transforms.’