Aiyedatiwa Rewards Academic Excellence with Jobs, Cash Awards for Ondo Students and Teachers
Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has approved automatic employment into the Ondo State Public Service for seven National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) national award recipients while presenting cash rewards to outstanding students, teachers and other education achievers in the state.
The governor made the announcement on Tuesday during an awards ceremony held at the Cocoa Conference Centre, Governor’s Office, Akure, where each of the award recipients received N1 million in recognition of their outstanding academic and professional achievements.
Speaking at the event, Aiyedatiwa said the initiative demonstrates his administration’s commitment to rewarding excellence, retaining exceptional talents and strengthening human capital development in Ondo State.
He described the awardees as worthy ambassadors of the state whose achievements in academics, innovation, discipline and service have brought honour to the Sunshine State.
According to the governor, excellence is attained through discipline, perseverance, sacrifice and determination, adding that investing in education remains central to his administration’s OUR EASE policy agenda.
He also paid glowing tribute to teachers, describing them as the architects of human capital and the driving force behind the success of every outstanding student.
The governor said his administration has continued to prioritise the rehabilitation and construction of classrooms, provision of modern learning facilities, recruitment and training of teachers, digital education, technical and vocational learning, improved workers’ welfare and safer learning environments.
He stressed that the goal is to produce graduates who are innovative, technologically competent, morally upright and globally competitive.
Among those honoured were seven recipients of the NYSC National Award, 54 candidates who scored above 300 in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), students who represented Ondo State and Nigeria in national and international competitions, including the National Spelling Bee Global Competition in the United States, the World Olympiad Competition in Paris, France, and the World Chemistry Olympiad in Uzbekistan.
Two teachers also received national recognition, representing the public and private school categories.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, said the recognition programme was introduced to encourage academic excellence and inspire students and teachers across the state.
He noted that Governor Aiyedatiwa had directed that exceptional students and citizens who distinguish themselves academically be identified and celebrated, describing the initiative as a landmark step toward promoting educational excellence.
The ceremony was attended by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Olayide Adelami, Chief of Staff Prince Segun Omojuwa, members of the State Executive Council, lawmakers, education stakeholders, the Ondo State NYSC Coordinator, Alhaja Kuburat Omowunmi, and other dignitaries.
