Igangan Community Holds Maiden Education Summit, As Students Get Free Jamb Forms, Educational Materials
Igangan Community has successfully held the maiden edition of its Education Summit in a grand style.
The Summit was organized to reposition the challenges facing the education sector in the community, especially the poor performance of the students in the external examinations.
Several stakeholders in the community including the traditional rulers, permanent secretary and directors in the education ministry in Oyo State, principals, private school proprietors, teachers, parents, guardians and the students participated in the event.
Asigangan of Iganganland, Oba Abdulrafiu Olaniyi Adeniyi Ariwoola (Aako II), while speaking during the event held at the community town hall, described the summit as historic.
Oba Ariwoola explained that the decline being witnessed in the students' performance during the external examinations and admission into the higher institutions is becoming alarming and disturbing.
The traditional rulers added that he is happy to with the committee who take the responsibility on behalf of the community to organise the summit in order to find lasting solutions to the challenges.
"The committee has displayed uncommon and unprecedented attitudes in taking the responsibility for organizing a gathering where these challenges can be addressed
"I called on the committee to continue to do this in order to return Igangan to its rightful position among other community in the area of education which he had carved niche for itself", Oba Ariwoola said.
Chairman of the Committee, Comrade Jamiu Ogungbenro, said the decision to organize the summit was borne out of the fact that the challenge requires urgent attention.
"The rationale behind the summit was due to ugly development in our education sector in which Ibarapa North was ranked 33rd in oyo state in WAEC results for the year 2024 and 2025 by a social media blog
"This summit is not a platform for blame game but a forum for solutions
"We appreciate our parents, teachers, community leaders, donors and sponsors for the success of this event", he said
Chairman of the Event, Supr. Apostle Daniel Olusegun Okedeji, admonished both the students and their parents to take the responsibility of their future, especially the education seriously.
National Chairman of Igangan Community Development Association, Comrade Joseph Ojewola, asked the students to be in charge of their future and work towards achieving their goals in life.
The Permanent Secretary of Oyo State Ministry of Education, Mr Aderinto Biliaminu Oketade, in his goodwill message, said the students in the community have arrays of examples of indigenes who are thriving well in their chosen career.
Mr Aderinto asked the students to take advantage of those frontliners to seek guidance, supports and advice in solving any education challenges facing them.
A Director in the state's education ministry, Mr Paul Bolatiri, called on the parents to develop a good relationship with the teachers of their children.
Bolatiri warned against any form of confrontation, attack or abuse of the teachers by the students and their parents as being witnessed in some areas.
One of the Guest Lecturers, Dr Sunday Olaogun while speaking on the topic 'Creating a supportive Learning Environment at Home: Tips and Tricks ', said parents must invest heavily on the education pursuit of their wards.
Dr Olaogun, an Associate Professor at University of Ibadan, Oyo State, added that parents have a crucial roles to play in the educational development of their children.
According to him, parents must strive to instill the omoluabi ethos in their children as the worthy legacy they can leave behind for them.
Another Guest Lecturer, Dr Olabisi Aako, while speaking on the topic "Unlocking Your Potentials, Discovering Your Strength And Passion", advised the students to discover their ability in order to thrive on the prospective careers.
Dr Aako, a Senior Lecturer at Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, said every student has an ability that makes him or her to be distinct from any of their mates.
He asked them to work with those who will help them nurture their talents and develop their strengths in order to achieve their goals academically.
Another Guest Lecturer, Hon. Gbenga Ojoawo, appealed to the students not to despair in the face of the current challenges they are facing in their education.
Instead, the educationist and politician popularly known as Iloko, added that the students should give all it takes to get education which will later become their bedrock for success in life.
Former House of Assembly Candidate for the All Progressives Congress APC during the 2023 general polls, Hon. Soliu Lawal, popularly known as Bashorun, asked every stakeholder to utilize opportunities they come across to develop their community, especially the area of education among others.
He listed the blocks of classrooms he facilitated for one of the public schools in Igangan, promising to do more in the future.
An invited guest, Madam Toirat Oladimeji, appealed to the parents to invest heavily on the girls education, saying training a girl child is more profitable to the society in general.
The Summit further dissolved into questions and answers sessions where all the stakeholders participated fully with insights and solutions to some of the issues raised.
A special account tagged "IGANGAN EDUCATION TRUST FUND" was created as a dedicated account to cater for the education needs in the community.
The highlights of the event also include presentation of gifts items to students who participated during the Asigangan Quiz Competition.
The outcome of the competition showed that Jinadu Aliat from Oke Aako High School, emerged the winner of Public Schools category, while Taiwo Abdulrahman came second and Adedokun Fathia took third position.
For Private Schools category, Promise Olojede emerged the winner, with Azeez Barakat coming second while Muiz Ojebisi occupied the third position.
As for the category of the indigenous students studying outside the community, Deborah Abegunde came first, festus Ogunleke came second while Jesujuwonlo Odebola occupied the third position.
Each of the winners went home with different gifts while the remaining participants were rewarded with gift items.
A total of 28 participants in the Asigangan Quiz Competition also benefitted from the Jamb Forms Scholarships amounting to the tune of N280,000 given to them.
