Lagos assures of priority investments in education, rewards 12 exemplary teachers

*The Lagos State Government appreciates school teachers, gives car gifts to 12 educators, says no reward is enough for their commitment to duty in the state

Emmanuel Akosile | ConsumerConnect

Even as one of the beneficiaries of the car gifts modestly disclosed that hitherto ‘I cannot drive, not thinking of buying a car,’ Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu stressed that no reward is enough for all that teachers are doing.

Governor Sanwo-Olu stated this during the presentation of cars to teachers Tuesday, March 30, at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, the state capital, in view of the passion they bring to the job by inculcating in children the values they require to succeed, besides going the extra mile to teach, train and equip students to excel as global citizens.

The winners of the car gifts   Photo: LASG

ConsumerConnect gathered the governor, who spoke at the 2021 Teachers’ Merit Award where 12 teachers got brand new cars for their outstanding contributions, said his administration would continue to prioritise investments in education by improving the capacity, competence and welfare of teachers, and bridging the teacher-pupil ratio in schools.

The recipients of the car gifts, who are made up of three teachers and one administrator each at primary, junior secondary and senior secondary school level have also been inaugurated as state ambassadors.

These include Adesola Akindele, Temitope Gbadamosi, Temitope Ibiwunmi, Rasheed Odenike, Rebecca Oyinloye, Oluwaseun Balogun, Joshua Olasehinde.

Others are Abosede Padonu-Daniel, Ekundayo Ajiborisade, Tolulope Odusanya, Tawakalitu Akinleye and Ovinuyon Buhari.

The state government said it would make the education sector more ICT-compliant, exposing teachers to international best practices, as well as ensuring that Lagos public schools are conducive for teaching and learning with quality and modern infrastructure.

According to Sanwo-Olu, the current administration in the state cognisant of the essential roles teachers play in building a formidable society, which is why he and his team are committed to rewarding exceptional teachers on a regular basis.

The Teachers Merit Award is not only an avenue to reward teachers’ exceptional efforts, but also a genuine way of promoting merit and encouraging the spirit of healthy competition among the teachers in Lagos State, the governor noted.

Interestingly, Mr. Tolulope Odusanya, one of the 12 fortunate teachers, who got a brand new car, while thanking the governor profusely for the gift, revealed that he could not drive, and was not thinking of buying a car when the car gift came.

Several top government officials and individuals from the private sector of the state economy, especially from the education industry, attended the event.

Eleven other teachers, who reached the final stage of the competition from among the initial 3,200 applications received were said to have been given consolation prizes.