In a landmark celebration underscoring inclusive governance, Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, marked the 2026 World Teachers’ Day in grand style at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion along New Iyin Road, Ado-Ekiti. The event placed educators with disabilities firmly in the spotlight, rewarding outstanding teachers and administrators with a combined cash sum of ₦6.5 million.
The celebration, themed “Standing with Teachers: 60 Years of Protecting the Profession, Advancing its Status and Shaping Our Futures,” served as a testament to the administration’s deliberate commitment to equity, leaving no educator behind in the state’s educational transformation.
Demonstrating that ability often transcends physical limitations, several exceptional educators and school leaders from special education institutions across the state were honored with heavy financial rewards. In the special education teaching category, Mrs. Olaniyi Bamidele Ruth (Hearing Impairment) from the Government Special School for the Deaf, Ikoro-Ekiti, clinched the 1st position and received Two Million Naira (₦2,000,000). Mrs. Adebayo Adenike Comfort (Physically Challenged) from the Government Special School, Ido-Ekiti, took 2nd position with One Million Naira (₦1,000,000), while Mrs. Christianah Ojo (Visually Impaired) from the Government Special School for the Blind, Ikere-Ekiti, secured 3rd position with Five Hundred Thousand Naira (₦500,000).
For the administrative category in special schools, Mrs. Adu Olaide Temitope, Principal of the Government Special School for the Deaf, Ikoro-Ekiti, won 1st position and received Two Million Naira (₦2,000,000), while Mr. Salami Oduntan Rasak, Principal of the Government Special School for Children with Intellectual Disability and Physically Challenged, Ido-Ekiti, took 2nd position with (One Million Naira)₦1,000,000.
Speaking at the event, Governor Oyebanji expressed profound gratitude to the state’s teaching workforce for their unwavering support and dedication since the inception of his administration. “I want to sincerely appreciate our teachers for their unwavering support since the inception of our administration. Their commitment and dedication to duty have enhanced and improved teaching and learning outcomes,” Governor Oyebanji stated.
He acknowledged key educational stakeholders, including the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), ANCOPSS, ASUSS, APSHON, Nigeria Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET) and private school owners, hailing them as reputable partners in progress.
Highlighting the alignment of this year’s global theme with his administration’s vision, the Governor noted that the state is aggressively modernizing infrastructure to meet the demands of a technology-driven world. He detailed that all 203 public secondary schools now feature ICT laboratories, interactive boards, and 5kVA inverters, with internet facilities already deployed in 125 of them.
Furthermore, old school buildings have been renovated across all schools, perimeter fencing provided for 54 public secondary schools, and CCTV cameras installed in 48 schools, with 85 more slated for installation this month.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Commissioner for Education, Dr. (Mrs.) Olabimpe Aderiye, commended Governor Oyebanji for his visionary leadership, noting that capacity development programs have equipped Ekiti teachers with 21st-century digital proficiency. Dr. Aderiye disclosed that the Oyebanji administration has invested over ₦18 billion in the education sector over the past four years, which includes ₦11.9 billion committed as counterpart funding for conducive learning environments, ₦2.289 billion disbursed for running grants, and ₦546.9 million dedicated to feeding children across the state’s three special schools.
Additionally, the government expended ₦2.1 billion on the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), ₦955 million on school placement fees, and ₦125 million on NABTEB examinations.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Education and Social Inclusion, Princess Adetoun Agboola, while speaking to journalists regarding the honors, commended the administration. “Today’s honor is truly commendable and deeply heart-warming,” she remarked. “I wish to specially applaud the decision to honour hardworking teachers with disabilities and the dedicated administrators in the special schools. This is a powerful statement of inclusion.”
Princess Agboola noted that this is the third time Persons With Disabilities have been specifically honored for efficient service delivery, serving as a great source of motivation for the staff. “By honoring PWDs, we are saying that disability is not inability, and that every teacher, regardless of ability, is valued and seen. By honoring the administrators, we are acknowledging that teaching is teamwork. The clerk, the secretary, the bursar, the typist , they are the engine room that makes our schools run. This honor is not just an award; it is a message of dignity, inclusion, and appreciation for all.”
The 2026 celebration stands as a historic milestone for Ekiti State, solidifying Governor Oyebanji’s reputation as a leader who champions inclusion, empowers educators with disabilities, and builds a sustainable foundation for future generations.