Kunle Adelabu
The Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LSUBEB) has described the emergence of Mr Taiwo Odumbo as the new Education Secretary (ES), Local Government Education Authority (LGEA), Ikorodu Local Government, as a new dawn in the primary education sub – sector.
Odumbo, who was until his emergence, the Principal, Lagos State University (LASU) International School, Ojo, assumed his new position at the LGEA Secretariat, Methodist Primary School premises, Ikorodu, on Wednesday.
On assumption, the new ES was introduced to the stakeholders whom he met briefly inside the NUT Secretariat which is also located within the premises.
Mrs Funmilayo Ijutusin, Director, Secretariat and Welfare Services, LSUBEB, who accompanied the new ES to Ikorodu after he was presented with his letter of appointment at LSUBEB office in Maryland, Lagos, stressed that the board has listened and gave the stakeholders in the primary education their demand for a change.
“I have just one task here today which is the directive of the Executive Chairman, LSUBEB, to inform you of a beginning of a new era in Ikorodu LGEA. To make you realize that we have listening ears in LSUBEB, and that the board is not ignorant of your yearnings, aspirations and what you are clamouring for which is change and the board brought the change.
“You said that you do not want the continuity of what you had before and LSUBEB, in collaboration with local government chairmen of all the LGA and LCDAs in Ikorodu, has decided to listen to your yearnings, aspiration and requests and on that note, we have brought to you a brand new Education Secretary, a 21st century compliant Education Secretary and an Education Secretary that is not just friendly but also focused and firm.
“He wears the shoes and knows where it pinches. On that note, I have been directed to introduce to you Mr Taiwo Odumbo, the new Education Secretary, LGEA Ikorodu”, she said.
LSUBEB Director charged stakeholders on the need to work with and support the new ES in order to ensure that the policy of ensuring that every child is educated is attained.
“He is ready to work on your complaints and work with you, and I have been further directed to inform you that a tree does not make a forest and for the change that you are clamouring for to come into reality, that you have parts to play. He has come to work and you must work with him. There is no 99% loyalty.
“The board has directed me that you must give him 100% loyalty and support. You must support and collaborate with him to make sure that no child is left behind as far as basic education is concerned in Lagos State”, she charged.
The Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Fakolade Oluwakemi, Jpil., also described the arrival of the new ES as a dawn of a new era, while also assuring him of support.
“It’s a new dawn, a new era and a bright new day for the entire teachers at the primary school level in Ikorodu. It is a new beginning
“I welcome Mr Odumbo Taiwo to Ikorodu LGEA, and I wish him all the best. Let me put this on record that the Nigerian Union of Teachers, under my leadership, will continue to support relevant stakeholders like the Education Secretary, and we will do all within our power to make him succeed.
“We know the symbiotic relationship between us and he has promised that teachers will be happy this time around”, he said.
Mrs Adebanjo, Chairman, Association of Primary Teachers, speaking with THE IMPACT, also envisaged a new era with the emergence of Odumbo as the new ES, while also assuring him of the teachers’ support.
“It is amazing. We feel so good and happy to receive the new Education Secretary. It is going to be a new era in Ikorodu, and I am sure that everybody will be happy.
“I can assure him that all the teachers will work in peace with him for all of us to succeed. He is assured of our full support”.
Speaking on the expectations of teachers, Mrs Adebanjo said that they are expecting a good working relationship and ready to support him to achieve in his primary assignment.
“He has promised us all good things and I have no doubt that he will make us all happy for us to achieve a better working environment. He told us that he doesn’t want to leave any child behind, which has been the LSUBEB slogan and is going to keep working on that.
“He also said that he doesn’t want to see any child on the street since he has had such an experience and we are going to give him full support to bring all the street children inside the school and make them educated”, she said.
Comrade Oyenuga Olaolu, Chairman, Non – Teaching Staff Union, expressed his happiness for the new administrator, while he too pledged the cooperation of members of his union.
“It is really a wonderful thing to receive the new Education Secretary. I can see that he is somebody of a younger age. I am really happy and I want to thank all the stakeholders that joined the struggle to make today a reality.
“With what I have seen, it’s going to be a new era and a great one which we are all going to enjoy. I see that and I can feel it.
“There is a need for a lot of changes and we are open and ready to work with him”, he pledged.
Addressing the stakeholders, Odumbo, who said that he understood the terrain very well, added that he has 19 years experience as a school administrator.
He assured staff of the LGEA, school heads, teachers and union members that he is going to work with them.
“I am a son of the soil and I understand the grassroots properly. I was born, raised and brought up on the street and because of that, I know where it pinches.
“I was born and raised in a ghetto, precisely in a place called Ojurowo in Itunmeko. So, because of that, I repeat, I know where it pinches. To God be the glory, I have served as Principal of schools for 19 years.
“I understand the system and I understand the terrain. I might not be familiar with primary school education, but I am not just an ordinary educationist, but also a political scientist and I am also a human resource practitioner. I understand what people are all about and their importance in the affairs of governance. If you are not there, I cannot be here,” he said.
The new ES charged stakeholders to get involved and ready to contribute their own quotas to ensure the primary objective of the basic education in Lagos State, which is to get every child educated.
“The task ahead of us is enormous and the challenges are high. I have heard a lot, however, all hands must be on deck.
“To the glory of Almighty God, we are not going to regret ever working here. Aside from that, if we all have the ambition of ensuring that all the children on the streets must be somebody in life, then, it is a task that everyone must key into. Whenever I see any kid on the street, I am not too happy and pleased because I was raised on the street.
“Therefore, for us to prevent every child from the street, it is a collective responsibility. It is not the duty of the Education Secretary alone, who is only privileged to be first among the equals. That’s the opportunity that I have and I am appreciative of it and that does not mean that anyone one among you cannot also be here”.
He urged them to support him so that he can bring his experience to bear and for them to achieve landmark achievements together in Ikorodu LGEA.
“As of this morning, I am the Principal of Lagos State University International School where I served for a complete nine years. I was also a former Principal of De Young Comprehensive College where I served for 10 years, making 19 years of service as a principal. To God be the glory, the records are there.
“If we want to build that same record and surpass it here, we must all key in together. This is a collective agenda and no child must be left behind.
“If every child on the street must not be left behind, all of us must do it together. It is not a promise, but I will do everything humanly possible to make you happy in doing your work
“By virtue of being a human resource expert, I know what it takes to make workers happy in any organisation because we need all stakeholders to be involved in the task ahead because it is not just the staff alone, but also the parents, children and unions.
“Sincerely, it is not going to be business as usual. I was discussing with the Director this morning and one of the things she told me was that I have been in the private sector; a place where punctuality is the soul of business and where every minute counts in every day of our lives. That’s why I want everyone of us to work together and you will be very happy working with me.
“To God be the glory for all that you have achieved and to God will be the glory for all that we will still achieve together. I appreciate the stakeholders here for all the support, yearnings and everything sunk into my memory and I assure you that everything will be treated accordingly.
“This is not the time for rhetoric. We are still going to have more time together, but today is just to present myself to you”, he said.
Also, on the ground tow welcome the new ES were important personalities and educationists in Ikorpdu, Mayor Muhydeen Sanwoola, Executive Assistant to Governor of Lagos State on Park Management, Mrs Bisi Mustapha Bello, a retired head teacher, Alhaja F.A.T. Olanrewaju, an educationist, Mr. Abdulateef Bello, a senior public officer and Mr Dayo Hassan, a lecturer with YABATECH among others.
