Cheers erupted across the hall as Mr. Oyewole Wasiu Abioye of Wesley Girls Senior Secondary School was handed the keys to a brand-new car, the grand prize for being named Best Teacher (Senior School Category) at the 2025 Education District IV Merit Awards. The event, held on Tuesday at Government Senior College, Eric Moore, Surulere, was a celebration of excellence themed “Unlocking the 21st Century Educators.”
The Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary (TG/PS), Mr. Olusegun Osinaike, received high praise from dignitaries including Lagos State House of Assembly Member representing Lagos Mainland Constituency II, Hon. Adebola Rasheed Shabi and the Chairperson of the Lagos State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Mrs. Victoria Mopelola Peregrino, for his visionary leadership and continued efforts to uplift public education in the district.
Addressing attendees, Hon. Shabi commended Osinaike’s commitment to staff development and academic excellence. “This is not just about awards,” he stated. “It is about recognising those who consistently go the extra mile to transform lives in the classroom.” He lauded the best-performing students in the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), gifting them cash awards and tablets, while cautioning that the funds are strictly for academic use, not parental diversion.
Shabi urged other staff to emulate the winners, reminding them that “the reward for hard work is more work.”
In her keynote address, TESCOM Chairperson Mrs. Peregrino described teachers as the custodians of values and knowledge. She reiterated the government’s unwavering support for rewarding excellence in education, stating: “When we celebrate teachers, we are celebrating the future. The classroom remains the heartbeat of national development.”
Beyond the fanfare, Pastor Adebayo Adeyemo, the guest speaker, emphasized the importance of resilience and purpose, noting that the awards were proof that “hard work, commitment, and passion never go unnoticed.”
Other notable winners included:
Best Teacher (Junior School): Mr. Ogundeji Adewale Olubusayo, New Era Girls Junior Secondary School
Best Student in BECE: Miss Alfred Ojone Immaculate, Randle Junior Secondary School
Best Student in WASSCE: Miss Amaram Joy Chiamaka, Sari-Iganmu Senior Secondary School
Best Principal (Senior): Mrs. Oyefeso Adenike, Gbaja Girls Senior Secondary School
Best Principal (Junior): Mrs. Akingbade Yetunde, Onike Girls Junior High School
Best Vice-Principal (Senior): Mr. Oshoare Adesina Sulaimon, Iponri Estate Senior High School
Best Vice-Principal (Junior): Mr. Soewu Olorunju Oluwatobi
Best District Staff (Senior): Mr. Ojo Oluwaseun Yinka
Best District Staff (Junior): Mrs. Ogunbiyi Funmilayo
Best Non-Teaching Staff (Senior): Mrs. Adebowale Cecilia Yemisi, Stadium Senior High School
Best Non-Teaching Staff (Junior): Mrs. Jimoh Afusat, Aguda Junior Grammar School
Best Senior School: Government Senior College, Eric Moore
Best Junior School: Onike Girls Junior High School
Mr. Osinaike, earlier in his remarks, reaffirmed the district’s dedication to inclusive excellence and digital transformation in line with the state’s education agenda. “We are committed to ensuring that every child thrives, and every teacher is empowered to lead the future.”
The ceremony attracted high-profile guests, including Mr. Opeyemi Eniola, Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Basic and Secondary Education, and Mr. Aluko Akintunde, representing the Executive Chairman of SUBEB.
District IV’s Honour Day stands as a powerful reminder that educators remain at the heart of sustainable development.
