Category: Education

… Participation, performance hit new highs as state sustains education reforms

The Kwara State Government has announced significant progress in the 2025 placement examination, with both participation and performance showing steady growth.

Releasing the results on behalf of the government, the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe, quoted Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as saying the outcome reaffirms the administration’s commitment to strengthening public education.

“The encouraging results from both the placement and BECE examinations reaffirm our administration’s commitment to strengthening public education. We are proud of the steady progress and will continue to invest in teaching, learning and infrastructure so that every Kwara child has a fair chance to succeed,” the Governor said.

Figures released by the Ministry showed that participation rose by 3.09%, from 62,031 candidates in 2024 to 63,950 in 2025, reflecting a rising demand for public education and the impact of government-led initiatives across schools and local education authorities.

Performance outcomes also improved, with the overall pass rate climbing to 83.21% in 2025, compared with 73.98% in 2024 and 66.99% in 2019 — the strongest result within the review period.

At the subject level, Mathematics recorded a 72.86% pass rate in 2025, up from 67% in 2024; English improved to 74.61% from 73%; while General Studies rose to 85.30% from 78%.

Dr. Olohungbebe noted that the results build on recent gains from the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), where Kwara students also recorded improved performance.

The Commissioner commended teachers, school leaders, parents and learners for their collective efforts, stressing that the achievements reflect the government’s sustained investments in education and the determination of stakeholders to raise standards across the state.

The Kwara State Government has announced the official opening of applications for the 2025 Bursary and Scholarship Award, targeting indigenous students currently enrolled in tertiary institutions across Nigeria as well as graduates of the Nigerian Law School.

According to a statement from the Kwara State Scholarship Board, the application process will run from September 4 to September 18, 2025, and all applicants are required to submit their forms through the official portal at scholarship.kwarastate.gov.ng.

The initiative, carried out at the directive of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and supervised by the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, is part of government efforts to support students and promote access to quality education.

To qualify, applicants must be registered with the Kwara State Residents Registration Agency (KWASRRA) and will need their KWASRRA SSID alongside their National Identification Number (NIN) to complete the process.

Mandatory documents to be uploaded include a passport photograph, local government citizenship certificate, admission letter, duly stamped final-year course registration form, institutional ID card, evidence of NAKSS due payment, KWASRRA certificate, NAKSS receipt, and valid NIN slip.

The government emphasized that incomplete applications or failure to meet the deadline will lead to automatic disqualification.

The Scholarship Board urged eligible students to take full advantage of the opportunity, stressing that the initiative reflects the administration’s commitment to easing the financial burden on students and encouraging academic excellence.

… Students get ₦1m each, tutors ₦500,000 for national victory

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has fulfilled his pledge to reward the state’s representatives at the 2025 President’s Schools Debate, presenting a total of ₦7 million in cash prizes to the champions and their tutors.

At a brief ceremony on Thursday at the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, the Governor, represented by Commissioner Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe, handed out cheques to the beneficiaries. Each of the four victorious students received ₦1 million, while six tutors got ₦500,000 each, in recognition of their outstanding performance at the national competition in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Dr. Olohungbebe said the gesture reflects the administration’s commitment to promoting excellence in education, noting that the win was a product of ongoing reforms in the sector. “This government believes in encouraging brilliance and rewarding hard work. The students’ performance has made Kwara proud, and this is a motivation for others,” he said.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Olanrewaju Rebecca Bake, applauded Governor AbdulRazaq’s consistent support for education and urged the beneficiaries to justify the recognition with renewed dedication to learning and teaching.

Former Lagos State Special Adviser on Primary and Secondary Education, Mr. Sanni Sheu Ahmed, also hailed the Governor’s intervention, saying the recognition would inspire more students across Nigeria to pursue academic excellence.

The debate champions—Moshood Kamaldeen (Government Secondary School, Ilorin); AbdulAzeez Abdulmuntasir (St. Anthony Secondary School, Ilorin); Usman Mariam Enyo (Ilorin Grammar School, Ilorin); and AbdulAzeez Aisha (Nawarudeen Grammar School, Offa)—expressed gratitude to the Governor alongside their tutors.

The six tutors; Babatunde Amina, Hassan Iyabo, Ashaolu Olugbenga Jude, Mofoluwaso Agbeleye, Fadare Abigail Oluwayemisi, and OgidiOlu Tunde Taofeeq—also thanked the Governor for the recognition, pledging greater commitment to grooming future champions.

Parents of the awardees described the financial rewards as a morale booster and an uncommon gesture that underscores the Governor’s passion for education and youth development.

… Government assures safe, conducive environment for learners

The Kwara State Government has fixed September 15, 2025, as the official resumption date for the 2025/2026 academic session for all basic, junior, and secondary schools across the state.

The announcement was made in Ilorin on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe, who said adequate measures are in place to guarantee a safe and conducive learning atmosphere in schools.

Olohungbebe explained that the decision followed resolutions reached at the recent education stakeholders’ meeting convened by the ministry to review preparedness for the new academic year.

He commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his unwavering support for the education sector, which, according to him, continues to yield positive results in learning outcomes and the welfare of teachers and students alike.

“A review of the previous academic year has been undertaken, and areas requiring more attention have been identified. As a government, we reassure all stakeholders, including our partners, of our commitment to uninterrupted education for all learners in Kwara State,” the commissioner said.

He noted that recent examination results showed remarkable improvements in students’ performance across the state, saying the achievement will spur the administration to intensify efforts in strengthening the education system.

The commissioner disclosed that the government is finalising a new policy framework to further enhance the sector, with details to be announced after ongoing consultations with stakeholders are concluded.

Olohungbebe urged parents, school heads, learners, and administrators to support government initiatives aimed at delivering quality and inclusive education. He added that several programmes, including technological solutions, are being deployed to make learning more attractive and accessible to every child in Kwara State.

…Move reinforces administration’s commitment to teachers’ welfare

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has approved the 2024 cash backing for 3,594 teaching and non-teaching staff of the State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), with immediate effect.

The Executive Chairman of the Commission, Mallam Bello Tauheed Abubakar, announced this on Wednesday while addressing the management staff of the commission.

He described the approval as another clear testimony of Governor AbdulRazaq’s commitment to improving the welfare of teachers across the state.

Bello recalled that since assuming office in 2019, the Governor had cash-backed pending promotions from 2015, 2016, and 2017, and has consistently sustained the practice through to 2023.

He assured staff that the present administration will continue to ensure that all promotions are backed with cash as and when due.

While appreciating Governor AbdulRazaq’s huge investment in teachers’ welfare, Bello pledged the commission’s continued loyalty and dedication to duty, promising that staff will justify the government’s gesture through hard work and commitment.

…Over 5,000 community leaders to be trained to oversee facility upgrades

#KwaraRising

The Kwara State Government has launched plans to renovate 898 junior and senior public secondary schools across the state as part of its ongoing education reform agenda.

Under the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project, specifically the 1.2 Renovation sub-component, over 5,000 members of School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) are being trained to supervise these school upgrades. The announcement was made during a monitoring visit to the Kwara State College of Education in Ilorin by AGILE Project Coordinator, Mr. Adeshina Salami.

During the five-day training, SBMC members are being equipped with essential skills in needs assessment, development of School Improvement Plans (SIP), and project management. Coordinated across the state’s three senatorial districts, the training involves six SBMC members from each of the 898 schools, including the chairman, principal (as secretary), female treasurer, a teacher representative, and two technically skilled artisans.

Renovations will focus not only on classroom upgrades but will also include improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities. Stakeholders emphasise that community ownership, transparency, and quality assurance are at the core of the implementation model.

The AGILE Project’s Renovation sub-component aims to create safe and enriching learning environments—particularly for adolescent girls—by encouraging school completion through improved infrastructure. SBMCs, drawn from local stakeholders, are expected to oversee the renovations at the community level.

…Al-Hikmah University founder’s pledge sets new record for Education Trust Fund support

In what has been described as a major boost for education in Kwara State, Alhaji Raheem Oladimeji, founder of Al-Hikmah University, has donated ₦20 million to the Kwara State Education Trust Fund.

The contribution, announced through his Alhaji Dr. Raheem Oladimeji Foundation (ADROEF), marks the largest individual pledge to the fund since its establishment.

The donation will not only strengthen KwaraETF’s infrastructure to deliver on other priority initiatives across the state’s education sector but will also sponsor 10 of Kwara’s highest-scoring pupils in the 2025 National Common Entrance Examination.

Each student will receive a full six-year scholarship covering tuition, accommodation, uniforms, feeding, and all essential learning materials.

Oladimeji said his gesture reflects a lifelong commitment to empowering young people through education, stressing that no child should be denied quality schooling due to financial constraints. He commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s administration for creating the Education Trust Fund, which he described as a visionary platform for improving learning outcomes in the state.

Officials of the Kwara State Education Trust Fund praised the intervention, saying it demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships in transforming education. They expressed optimism that the donation would inspire other well-meaning individuals and organisations to contribute toward the state’s goal of providing equitable and quality education for all.

…Programme targets early-grade literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving

The Kwara State Government, through the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in partnership with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and New Globe Educational Services, has commenced a three-day training programme for 1,325 teachers from public basic schools across the state.

The exercise, which began on Monday and will end on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, focuses on two thematic areas — “Foundational Literacy Skills” and “Springs and Stride” — aimed at improving early-grade reading and fostering productivity in software development, critical thinking, and problem-solving.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Ilorin, SUBEB Chairman Prof. Shehu Raheem Adaramaja said the initiative was designed to strengthen teachers’ capacity for maximum impact on pupils and the wider education system.

“The foundational literacy training is aimed at ensuring and sustaining yearly increases in the average literacy skills of early-grade pupils in government schools,” he said. “The Spring and Stride training, on the other hand, will focus on promoting productivity in software development, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.”

According to him, the beneficiaries include 500 teachers from Primary One classes, another 500 from Primary Two, 250 from Early Child Care Development Education (ECCDE), and 75 from the Pre-Basic level.

He outlined the training schedule across the state’s local government areas, with sessions holding from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. Teachers from Ilorin West and East LGAs will be trained at Bishop Smith School from July 28–30; Asa, Moro, and Ifelodun at LGEA School, Idofian; Kaiama at Kaiama Central School (July 31–Aug. 2); Baruten at LGEA School, Baruten; and Edu and Patigi at Central School, Tsaragi. Others include Offa and Oyun at Offa Grammar School (Aug. 4–7); Isin and Irepodun at Muslim School, Oro (Aug. 4–6); and Oke-Ero and Ekiti at Osi Central School, Osi (Aug. 4–6).

UBEC Deputy Director Mrs. Patient Abasi commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for prioritizing infrastructure upgrades, human capital development, and teacher welfare.

Mrs. Olaide Abel of New Globe Educational Services described the administration’s efforts as historic, noting that Kwara has become a reference point for educational development in Nigeria.

The event was attended by SUBEB Permanent Member II, Mrs. Dorcas Ibikunle, and other board members.