By Adetokunbo FAKEYE
Nigeria, Ogun State – Yewa People Development Council, YDC, an umbrella Council for all pan Yewa development-oriented associations and baby of Yewa Traditional Council, YTC, has concluded arrangements to host Yewa Education Summit between Tuesday 15th April, 2025 and Wednesday 16th April, 2025.
According to the Chairman Governing Council of YDC, Professor Rahamon Bello, at pre-event media briefing on Friday, 21st April, 2025, in Ilaro, the purpose of the Summit is to carry out a holistic situation analysis of the state of education in Yewaland and assess this vis-a-vis state of education in other parts of Ogun State and Nigeria.
“We are presently aware of the state of inadequate teachers, inadequate infrastructure and the negative impact that our location and environment at the Nigerian border and the lure for our youths to engage in inter-border trade is having on their low interest in education.
“The summit, themed “Repositioning Education in Yewaland: Challenges and Prospects,” will bring together key stakeholders to assess the current state of education and develop actionable strategies for sustainable growth and development”.
Professor Bello identified inadequate infrastructure, a shortage of qualified teachers, and the increasing shift of youths toward inter-border trade as major challenges affecting educational development in the region.
He added that the summit would serve as a platform for stakeholders to explore innovative solutions and chart a sustainable path for the future of education in Yewaland.
According to the former University of Lagos VC, the summit will have His Excellency, Prince (Dr.) Dapo Abiodun, CON, Governor of Ogun State, as the Special Guest of Honour, while Oba Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle, Olu of Ilaro, Paramount Ruler of Yewaland and Chairman, Ogun State Council of Obas, will serve as the Royal Father of the Day.
The keynote address, titled “Critical Assessment of the Current State of Education and its Impact on the Socio-Economic Development of Yewaland,” will be delivered by Prof. Taiwo Edun, a renowned academic and former Dean of the Faculty of Education, Olabisi Onabanjo University. Also, the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu , will lead a delegation of key stakeholders to deliver goodwill messages.
The event will also feature a series of thought-provoking paper presentations by renowned experts, including “The Roles of Critical Stakeholders in Advancing Education in Yewaland” by Very Rev. Akanbi Orobiyi, Retired Principal-General, Yewa/Awori Division; “Funding and Financing for Sustainable Educational Development in Yewaland” by Prof. Sheriffdeen Tella, Professor of Economics and Former Vice-Chancellor, Crescent University, Abeokuta; “TVET, Entrepreneurship, and Digital Training Pathways for Youth Development in Yewaland” by Dr. (Mrs.) Iroidoro Charlotte Bose, Deputy Rector (Academics), The Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro; and “Framework for Career Advisory and Mentorship for Yewa Youths” by Prof. Tolu Ogunleye, Director of Centre for Counselling Services, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun.
Dignitaries at the briefing included; Prof. Tope Popoola, Chairman of the Yewa Education Committee; Prof. Taiwo Edun, former Dean, Faculty of Education, Olabisi Onabanjo University; Mr. Ajiroba Dapo Oke II, Registrar, Tai Solarin University of Education; Mr. Ojo Olu Olusola, Deputy Registrar, Federal Polytechnic Ilaro; Rev. Akanbi Orobiyi; Prince Femi Olufemi Dokunmu, and other notable stakeholders.
Below is the full address delivered by Prof. Rahamon Bello:
ADDRESS PRESENTED AT THE PRE-EVENT MEDIA BRIEFING ON THE YEWA EDUCATION SUMMIT BY THE CHAIRMAN, GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE YEWA PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, PROFESSOR RAHAMON BELLO AT THE YPDC HOUSE, ILARO ON FRIDAY, 21ST MARCH, 2025
PROTOCOLS:
PREAMBLE:
It is my pleasure to formally welcome members of the Press who are here this afternoon. I also thank you for honouring our invitation.
As you might have been informed, this Media Briefing is called by the Yewa People Development Council to provide information on a coming major event in Yewaland, the arrangements being made towards the event, the purpose or objectives of the event and the various personalities that will be involved in different aspects of the event.
YPDC AS DRIVER FOR DEVELOPMENT IN YEWALAND:
Let me start by giving you a background of the Yewa People Development Council (YPDC). The Organization is an umbrella body (a Council) for all pan Yewa development-oriented associations, and it was established by the Yewa Traditional Council in 2020 for the coordination of pan-Yewa activities relating to fostering unity, promoting socio cultural and economic growth and facilitating infrastructural development across Yewaland. It is a non-political and not-for profit organization. The YPDC was officially inaugurated on Thursday, 30th December, 2021.
One of the mandates and objectives of the YPDC is to organize Yewa Summits as a strategic forum for discussing germane issues of common interest to the Yewa people with the aim of articulating blueprints to guide actions, principles and projects that would address the issues brought to the front burner. In 2024, the YPDC organized the Yewa Economic Summit. The gains of the Economic Summit are quite remarkable. We are already seeing these in the economic transformation being witnessed across Yewaland.
Following the success recorded from the Economic Summit, we are emboldened and enthusiastic in following up with the Yewa Education Summit which is a 2-day event slated for Tuesday, 15th and Wednesday, 16th April, 2025.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE SUMMIT:
The purpose and objectives of the Summit
are; to reflect on and carry out a holistic situation analysis of the state of education in Yewaland and assess this vis-a-vis state of education in other parts of Ogun State and Nigeria. We are presently aware of the state of inadequate teachers, inadequate infrastructure and the negative impact that our location and environment at the Nigerian border and the lure for our youths to engage in inter-border trade is having on their low interest in education. We are also aware that there is the need for more State and Federal Government owned tertiary institutions and possible upgrading of some existing ones in Yewaland to chart a course of action and embark on robust concerted efforts towards attaining improvement on the situation in recognition of education as a veritable instrument for effecting desirable change in the social, intellectual and economic outlook of the society. In this regard, we aware of the efforts of different individuals and groups in Yewaland to provide solution to the challenges through contacts with relevant stakeholders in government and in the private sector and through direct investments in the education sector.
It is expected that the outcome of these efforts will empower Yewa people to partner with government and other development partners in providing access to more improved, more inclusive and more equitable education and lifelong learning opportunities for all, in line with the Sustainable Development Goal 4.
The Yewa People Development Council is aware of various efforts by our representatives at the State and National level to facilitate infrastructures in our Primary and Secondary schools as well as the award of scholarships and bursaries to Yewa students in public tertiary institutions. On behalf of the Obas, Chiefs and people of Yewaland, we commend them and charge them to sustain the tempo of their passion and support for the development of education in our communities..
PROGRAMME OUTLOOK:
The event is a 2-Day Programme. Day 1, Tuesday, 15th April, 2025 will kick off with the Opening Session. It will have His Excellency, the Governor of Ogun State, Prince (Dr) Dapo Abiodun, CON as the Special Guest of Honour. The Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba (Dr) Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle, MFR is the Royal Father and Chairman of the Session. A welcome address will be presented by the Chairman of YPDC, Prof R.A. Bello while the Hononorable Commissioner for Education, Science & Technology, Professor Abayomi Arigbabu will lead an array of key stakeholders to present Goodwill Messages. The Keynote Address/ Lead Paper, titled; “Critical Assessment of the current State of Education and its impact on the socio-economic development of Yewaland” will be delivered by a distinguished don, who is a son of the soil, Prof. Taiwo Edun, a Professor of Sociology of Education and Former Dean, Faculty of Education, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye. Ogun State.
Other Papers to be delivered include:
PAPER 1:
Topic: The Roles of Critical Stakeholders in Advancing Education in Yewaland –
Presenter; Very Rev Akanbi Orobiyi- Retired Principal General, Yewa / Awori Division.
PAPER 2:
Topic: Funding and Financing for Sustainable Educational Development in Yewaland –Presenter Prof. Sheriffdeen Tella. Professor of Economics and Former Vice Chancellor, Crescent University, Abeokuta.
DAY 2:
PAPER 3: Topic: TVET, Entrepreneurship and Digital Training Pathways for Youth Development in Yewaland, Presenter; Dr (Mrs) Charlotte B Iro-Idoro.Deputy Rector (Academic), The Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro.
PAPER 4:
Topic: Framework for Career Advisory and Mentorship for Yewa Youths
Presenter; Prof Tolu Ogunleye, Director, Centre for Counselling Services, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun. Ijebu ode.
PAPER 5:
Topic: Presenter; Prof. Bamikole Oludare Ogunleye. Dean, Faculty of Education, NOUN, Abuja.
CONCLUSION:
We are confident that much preparations have been made by the Committee planning this event under the Chairmanship of one of our illustrious sons, an accomplished academic and public Administrator, Professor Tope Popoola. We earnestly and optimistically look forward to a successful event.
We are also expecting that the outcome of the Summit and the Blueprint generated will impact positively on the state of education in Yewaland and it will ultimately consolidate and improve on our gains in the years to come.
I thank you for your attention.
