Yewa Education Summit Scheduled for April 15 & 16 As YPDC Leads Charge for Educational Advancement In Yewaland (+photos)

BY ABU-SATAR HAMED

ILARO-YEWA, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA – Following the success recorded from the Economic Summit organized in 2024, the Yewa People Development Council (YPDC) will hold a 2-Day Yewa Education Summit to reflect on and carry out a holistic situation analysis of the state of education in Yewaland and assess this vis-à-vis the state of education in other parts of Ogun State and Nigeria.

Prof. Rahmon Bello, Chairman of the Governing Council of YPDC, disclosed this to journalists on Friday, March 20, 2025, at the pre-event media briefing on the Yewa Education Summit slated for April 15 & 16, 2025, held at the organization’s headquarters, Ilaro-Yewa, Ogun State.

He noted that the media briefing was called by the YPDC to provide information on the upcoming major event in Yewaland, the arrangements being made towards the event, the objectives of the event, and the various personalities that will be involved in different aspects of the event.

Prof. Bello further stated, “We are presently aware of the state of inadequate teachers, inadequate infrastructure, and the negative impact that our location and environment at the Nigerian border, as well as the lure for our youths to engage in inter-border trade, is having on their low interest in education.

“We are also aware that there is a need for more State and Federal Government-owned tertiary institutions and the possible upgrading of some existing ones in Yewaland. We intend to chart a course of action and embark on robust, concerted efforts towards attaining improvement on the situation, recognizing education as a veritable instrument for effecting desirable change in the social, intellectual, and economic outlook of the society.

“In this regard, we are aware of the efforts of different individuals and groups in Yewaland to provide solutions to the challenges through contacts with relevant stakeholders in government and the private sector, and through direct investments in the education sector.

“It is expected that the outcome of these efforts will empower the Yewa people to partner with government and other development partners in providing access to more improved, more inclusive, and more equitable education and lifelong learning opportunities for all, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.”

Prof. Bello highlighted several issues affecting education in Yewaland, including: a lack of essential resources for effective teaching and learning; the region’s proximity to the Nigerian border and the lure of inter-border trade, which affects youth interest in education and the need for more State and Federal Government-owned tertiary institutions and upgrading of existing ones to improve educational opportunities.

According to Prof. Bello, education remains a powerful instrument for bringing about social, intellectual, and economic progress in the society.

The YPDC chairman however acknowledged efforts by individuals and groups within Yewaland to address these challenges by collaborating with government stakeholders, private investors, and directly investing in the education sector.

The summit is expected to provide a platform for developing a comprehensive blueprint for enhanced, inclusive, and equitable education in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The 2-Day event will kick off on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, with the opening session. It will have His Excellency, the Governor of Ogun State, Prince (Dr) Dapo Abiodun, as the Special Guest of Honour and the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba (Dr) Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle, will be the Royal Father and Chairman of the session.

A welcome address will be presented by the Chairman of YPDC, Prof. R.A. Bello, while the Honorable Commissioner for Education, Science & Technology, Professor Abayomi Arigbabu, will lead an array of key stakeholders to present Goodwill Messages.

The Keynote Address/Lead Paper, titled “Critical Assessment of the Current State of Education and Its Impact on the Socio-Economic Development of Yewaland”, will be delivered by a distinguished don who is a son of the soil, Prof. Taiwo Edun, a Professor of Sociology of Education and former Dean, Faculty of Education, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.

Other papers to be delivered include: Paper 1, titled, “The Roles of Critical Stakeholders in Advancing Education in Yewaland,” to be presented by Very Rev. Akanbi Orobiyi, retired Principal General, Yewa/Awori Division and Paper 2, titled, “Funding and Financing for Sustainable Educational Development in Yewaland,” is to be delivered by Prof. Sheriffdeen Tella, Professor of Economics and Former Vice-Chancellor, Crescent University, Abeokuta.

The second day of the programme will feature: Paper 3, titled, “TVET, Entrepreneurship, and Digital Training Pathways for Youth Development in Yewaland,” to be presented by Dr. (Mrs.) Charlotte B. Iro-Idoro, Deputy Rector (Academic), Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro; Paper 4, titled, “Framework for Career Advisory and Mentorship for Yewa Youths,” to be presented by Prof. Tolu Ogunleye, Director, Centre for Counselling Services, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ijebu-Ode and Paper 5: to be presented by Prof. Bamikole Oludare Ogunleye, Dean, Faculty of Education, NOUN, Abuja.

Prof. Bello expressed his belief that the outcome of the Summit and the blueprint generated will positively impact the state of education in Yewaland and ultimately consolidate and improve upon the gains made over the years. “I thank you for your attention,” he concluded.

It will be recalled that the Yewa People Development Council (YPDC), a non-political and not-for-profit organization, is an umbrella body (a Council) for all pan-Yewa development-oriented associations.

YPDC was established by the Yewa Traditional Council in 2020 for the coordination of pan-Yewa activities related to fostering unity, promoting socio-cultural and economic growth, and facilitating infrastructural development across Yewaland.

The YPDC was officially inaugurated on Thursday, December 30, 2021. One of the mandates and objectives of the YPDC is to organize Yewa Summits as strategic forums for discussing important issues of common interest to the Yewa people, with the aim of articulating blueprints to guide actions, principles, and projects that would address the issues brought to the forefront.

The gains of the Yewa Economic Summit organized by YPDC in 2024 are quite remarkable – already being seen in the economic transformation being witnessed across Yewaland.

The achievements of that summit have inspired the Council to now focus on addressing educational challenges.