The Ogun State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, has been honoured as the Grand Patron of Yayi Teachers, a support group comprising teachers from public and private schools as well as school proprietors across the state.
The development was contained in a statement issued on Saturday following an interactive meeting between the senator and members of the association drawn from the 20 local government areas of Ogun State.
During the meeting, members of the group reaffirmed their support for Adeola’s governorship aspiration and used the opportunity to present some of the challenges facing teachers and the education sector in the state.
The State Coordinator of Yayi Teachers, Comrade Sunday Odunaro, said the association had remained loyal to Adeola since 2021 because of its confidence in his leadership qualities and commitment to improving the welfare of the people.
According to him, the group has continued to expand across the state through sustained mobilisation of teachers from various educational institutions.
Odunaro appealed to the senator for logistical support to enhance the activities of the association, particularly the provision of a bus to facilitate movement and coordination across Ogun State.
Responding, Adeola immediately promised to provide the requested vehicle.
The coordinator also assured the APC governorship candidate that members of the association would continue to promote his vision and programmes through their grassroots and media structures.
Some members of the group who spoke at the meeting commended Adeola’s empowerment programmes and developmental interventions, describing them as impactful across communities in the state.
Speaking on behalf of the members, Mr Taiwo Olusola from Obafemi Owode Local Government said the association remained one of the most dedicated support groups within the Yayi Movement, with a strong structure capable of mobilising support across the state.
The teachers also highlighted several challenges confronting the profession, including the implementation of the Teachers’ Peculiar Allowance, improved welfare packages, salary adjustments, school rehabilitation, teachers’ safety, student discipline and reforms to the Contributory Pension Scheme.
They noted that the pension scheme remained a major concern for teachers and other public servants approaching retirement and appealed to Adeola to prioritise reforms that would guarantee financial security for retirees.
The women representative of the association also urged the senator to address pension-related challenges, create opportunities for teachers to embark on pilgrimages after years of service and introduce policies that would protect educators from harassment and intimidation.
Members further called for greater investment in educational infrastructure and the rehabilitation of dilapidated school facilities to improve teaching and learning conditions.
Responding to the requests, Adeola commended members of Yayi Teachers for their loyalty, dedication and sacrifices over the years, assuring them that their support would not be taken for granted.
“I have been seeing your activities and support. Whenever I come across members of Yayi Teachers at events, I am always impressed. Today’s meeting is to appreciate you for believing in me, standing with me and campaigning for me even before the formal commencement of campaigns,” he said.
The senator described the gathering as one of the most rewarding meetings he had attended and praised members for remaining committed to the movement over the years.
“You have been with us long before now. You did not give up. Rather, you continued to grow stronger. I appreciate that loyalty and commitment. You are not traditional politicians. You have shown genuine interest in our vision, and I will never take your support for granted,” he added.
Adeola assured the teachers that all issues raised during the meeting had been noted and would receive the necessary attention.
He reiterated his commitment to making education a major pillar of his administration, stressing that meaningful development could only be achieved through substantial investment in education and teachers’ welfare.
The lawmaker further disclosed that his administration would appoint separate commissioners for Basic Education and Higher Education to ensure effective supervision and improved performance within the sector.
The meeting ended with members of Yayi Teachers decorating Adeola as the Grand Patron of the association in recognition of his contributions to education, empowerment and human capital development.
