Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has attributed the state’s remarkable leap from 33rd to 7th position in the National Examination Council (NECO) ranking to sweeping education reforms and strategic investments in human capital development.
In an exclusive interview with Osun Spring Newspaper at the Government House, Osogbo, Governor Adeleke described the milestone as the result of “teamwork and deliberate interventions” implemented since the inception of his administration in 2022.
“Our improved national standing is due to a combination of reforms — from rehabilitation of over 150 schools to better learning environments and the prioritisation of teacher welfare,” Adeleke stated.
“Our teachers now enjoy prompt payment of salaries and entitlements, which has boosted their morale and commitment to delivering quality education.”
He highlighted the recall and engagement of retired principals and vice-principals, which he said helped to stabilise school leadership and close gaps in administration.
The government, he added, has also focused on capacity-building through regular training and retraining programmes for teachers statewide.
Additionally, Adeleke said the government has consistently provided learning materials to schools, further strengthening the education ecosystem.
He commended the Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) for playing a proactive role in complementing government efforts in schools.
Speaking on the recruitment of new teachers, the governor assured that the process for issuing appointment letters to the first batch is underway. “We are finalising financial sustainability plans to ensure the recruitment aligns with our long-term budgetary goals,” he said.
Governor Adeleke reiterated his administration’s target of placing Osun first in national educational rankings, pledging further reforms to achieve the goal.
Meanwhile, the governor restated his administration’s commitment to human capital development during the opening ceremony of the Rotary District 9126 Conference held in Ede, where he emphasised the shared values between the Rotary Club and his governance ideals.
“Touching lives positively is the hallmark of good leadership,” he said. “Like Rotary, we are implementing people-focused programmes, reviving student bursaries, expanding free healthcare for seniors through the Osun Health Insurance Scheme (OSHIA), and mechanising agriculture to fight poverty.”
Adeleke listed additional achievements, including the rehabilitation of water infrastructure across the state, significant upgrades to rural and urban roads, and strengthened primary healthcare systems.
Highlighting fiscal prudence, he noted that Osun was recently ranked third nationwide for debt reduction by the Debt Management Office, having slashed its debt burden by over 45 percent.
“We’ve achieved this without taking on new loans. All major infrastructure projects are funded through internally generated revenue and federal allocations,” he said.
Governor Adeleke assured residents that his administration will continue to prioritize worker welfare, regular salary payments, and pension settlements as central to the government’s human development agenda.
