Lagos inducts 1,000 secondary school teachers

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the induction followed a one-week training for the teachers, conducted by the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Ikeja.

Speaking at the closing, Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat urged the newly-inducted teachers to be obedient, hardworking, focused and serious with their job.

Hamzat, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Deputy Governor’s Office, Mrs. Yetunde Odejayi, advised the teachers to be good ambassadors of the teaching profession.

TESCOM Permanent Secretary Mrs. Toyin Awosuyi said that the recruitment of the teachers was in line with the agenda of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration to improve education.

“While we were recruiting the teachers, we did not know anyone of them. The recruitment was open to all without discrimination and we are happy to have achieved that.

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“It was after the recruitment that we noticed that most of those qualified after the selection process were non-indigenes and this shows that we are not biased.

“The recruitment of the teachers was in line with the T.H.E.M.E agenda of Governor Sanwo-Olu, who is always ready to accede to our request at any given time.

“The governor has been of immense support to the educational development in Lagos State, so also is our Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, he is also ever ready to help the teachers in particular,’’ she said.

Awosuyi said that the recruitment of teachers into the civil service was on merit and not by ‘godfatherism,’ adding that the state would continue to give adequate support to education.

“I want to state clearly that the teachers recruited by Lagos State are all on merit, we did not cut corners and the process was fair enough for all the applicants.

“The essence of the training was to get the teachers acquainted with the civil service rules and regulations of the state. We are on the threshold of building a better education for Nigeria,’’ she said.

TESCOM Chairman Mrs. Elizabeth Ariyo said Lagos is building a 21st century set of teachers and teaching aids for the country.

“What we are doing now is to build the 21st century teachers for the country through training and re-training. We are set to always make the education system better for all.

“These sets of newly-recruited teachers are well equipped for the 21st century challenges and we will continue in that manner to further enhance the capacity of our teaching.

“I want to advise the teachers to be alive to their duties because they now have what it takes to be successful.

“Lagos State provides opportunities for all and I am waiting for the time when some of them will rise to become permanent secretaries,’’ she said.