Prince Bolarin Ogungbemi, a media publisher and education advocate, has urged the Kogi State Government to urgently address significant shortcomings in the education sector, including a shortage of teachers, an employment freeze, and policies affecting both public and private schools.
Speaking at a press conference in Lokoja on Tuesday, Ogungbemi, who is the Publisher of The Policy and Lawmakers Magazine, appealed to Governor Ahmed Ododo to review current education policies and prioritise the recruitment of qualified teachers to enhance learning outcomes across the state.
He expressed concern that Kogi State has not carried out any significant teacher recruitment for nearly a decade, despite a growing manpower deficit in public schools.
Ogungbemi pointed out that this shortage of teaching staff has adversely affected the quality of education in both primary and secondary schools, as many experienced teachers have either retired or passed away without proper replacements.
He referenced an assessment by the Kogi State Science, Technical Education, and Teaching Service Commission in 2022, which identified the need for approximately 9,979 additional teachers.
Although approval was granted for the recruitment of 3,979 teachers under the previous administration, only 1,108 were eventually employed, and about 200 later resigned due to poor working conditions.
Ogungbemi urged Governor Ododo to proceed with recruiting the remaining 2,871 teachers that were approved by the former administration, arguing that the education sector is currently facing a deficit of nearly 10,000 teachers.
He described the situation in primary schools as particularly dire, stating that several schools are on the verge of closure due to a lack of teaching personnel.
He noted that the last major recruitment of primary school teachers occurred in 2014 and called on the government to lift the employment ban at both state and local government levels.
On the recent abduction of the principal, examination officials, and students at Government Secondary School, Olowa, in Dekina Local Government Area during the 2026 NECO examinations, Ogungbemi commended security agencies for rescuing the victims. However, he criticised the state government’s labelling of the school as a “miracle centre.”
He referenced a statement from the National Examinations Council (NECO), which clarified that Government Secondary School, Olowa, is a legitimate public school established by the Kogi State Government and has consistently presented candidates for NECO examinations since 2000. Ogungbemi noted that NECO’s clarification contradicted claims that the school was operating as an illegal examination centre and confirmed that the abducted candidates were duly registered students.
He urged public officials to verify facts before making statements that could harm the reputation of educational institutions.
Additionally, Ogungbemi criticised the state government’s ongoing ban on graduation ceremonies for Nursery, Primary Six, and Junior Secondary School students, describing this policy as disproportionately affecting private schools.
He argued that while the government justified the ban to prevent financial exploitation of parents, private schools and their students still have to pay for various mandatory examinations and educational activities without benefiting from government-sponsored initiatives available to public schools.
He maintained that students in private schools are excluded from government-sponsored examination support, despite their parents contributing through taxes and other statutory payments.
In conclusion, Ogungbemi appealed to Governor Ododo to revisit critical issues affecting the education sector, particularly regarding teacher recruitment, improved manpower, and policies aimed at making quality education accessible and affordable for all residents of Kogi State.