The National Parents Teachers Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) has conferred Merit Awards of Excellence on the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN.
NAPTAN National President, Alhaji Haruna Danjuma, led other members of the association to confer the Awards on the Governor.
The Chairman of the state chapter of NAPTAN, Alhaji Abimbola Omojola, said the conferment of the awards on Governor Akeredolu was in recognition and appreciation of his performance as an education-loving Governor.
The Association named Arakunrin Akeredolu as the Winner of the All Nigeria Parents Best Performing Governor in Education.
According to the Chairman, the Merit Awards conferred on the Governor include Grand Patron of the Association in the Sunshine state and Senior Advocate of the Masses.
Highlighting the Governor’s scorecard which he said earned him the Merit Award of Excellence, the state NAPTAN Chairman said despite the financial instability and economic crunch, Governor Akeredolu has recruited 1,200 teachers in public primary schools which he noted was hitherto left unattended to for over a decade.
He said the Association was also happy about the Education Summit which was organized by the Governor in the early time of his administration, after clamouring for several years.
The scorecard as highlighted by the NAPTAN Chairman also includes the following:
“Payment of N360 Million for the registration of 2021 West African Senior Secondary Certification Examination (WASSCE) candidates in all Public Secondary Schools in the state.
“Payment of N3.8 Million for the registration of candidate in all Government Technical Colleges for the 2021 NABTEB Examination.
“Provision of Science equipment and mathematics training kits with N90 Million for Public Secondary Schools in the State, and payment of Bursary and Scholarship awards to 7,447 students of Ondo State origin in Tertiary Institution across the country.
“Purchase of over N150 million text books and other instructional materials for distribution across public secondary schools on the current administration.
“Appointment of Principals as Tutor-General, regular promotion of teachers and payment of salaries. Sponsorship of students for both national and international competitions where Ondo State contingents brought laurel by winning presidential award.
“Increased in budgetary allocation to the education sector more than ever before. Construction, renovation and perimeter fencing of over 700 schools with geographical spread in the nooks and crannies of the 18 local governments of the state. Among others.”
Responding, Governor Akeredolu said at inception, his administration was more than convinced that the infrastructures in the public primary schools in the state were totally ruined.
The Governor noted that construction and renovation of over 700 public primary schools in the state was to create a conducive environment for the pupils.
“When we came into office, we met seven months salary arrears. We took it upon ourselves. We paid six including that of teachers. Before COVID-19 and its attendant effects which led to revenue shortfall, we were paying regularly. I believe that non-regular payment of salary will soon be a thing of the past.”
Packaged by Emmanuel Adeniran
