Ogun honours national best teacher with car

The Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, has presented a brand new car to Mr Solanke Taiwo, a teacher at Ansa-Ur-Deen Main School I, Kemta Lawa, Abeokuta, after he emerged as Nigeria’s Overall Best Primary School Teacher.

In a statement released on Friday, the governor handed over the car keys to the award-winning teacher at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. The presentation was witnessed by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbagbu, alongside the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr Oloko.

Arigbagbu said the recognition reflects the state government’s continued investment in education and the impact of reforms introduced under its revitalisation agenda. He noted that the teacher had earlier won the Best Teacher Award in October before clinching the national honour, describing the feat as proof that consistent policies yield results.

According to the commissioner, the state’s declaration of a state of emergency in the education sector enabled wide-ranging reforms focusing on curriculum development, school management, technology and innovation, infrastructure, funding and revenue generation, as well as the welfare of teachers and students.

He added that Ogun State’s repeated successes at state and national levels demonstrate real transformation in the sector, stressing that the achievements go beyond symbolic recognition.

Arigbagbu also highlighted the state’s performance in external competitions, including strong showings in JETS contests, where students secured a majority of available awards in a particular year. He attributed the results to sustained attention and investment over the past six years.

On technical and vocational education, the commissioner said several states have expressed interest in studying Ogun State’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training model and its digital education initiatives. He noted that the Federal Government and the National Board for Technical Education have commended the state’s progress.

He explained that the car gift was intended to motivate teachers to maintain high standards, assuring that the administration would continue to prioritise training, retraining, digitisation and the use of AI-supported teaching tools.

Reacting, Solanke thanked the governor for fostering a supportive learning environment, saying the reforms and investments in education are producing measurable results across the state and beyond.

The teacher pledged to sustain his performance and work with colleagues to strengthen learning outcomes, urging educators to remain committed to excellence and to help every learner reach their full potential.