Gov Makinde reaffirms commitment to educational advancement at ISAF 2025 Conference

Oyo governor, Seyi Makinde, has reaffirmed that his administration will persist in supporting educational advancement both locally and internationally, as education remains a key pillar of his government.

He highlighted that his administration has been actively working to enhance primary, secondary, and tertiary education in the state. Additionally, he emphasized the belief that foreign education can contribute significantly to the state’s vision of economic expansion and development.

Governor Makinde, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Chief Segun Ogunwuyi, made this statement on Friday, at the second edition of the International Study Abroad Fair (ISAF) 2025 with the theme, “Global Mastery, Local Impact: Empowering Minds Through International Education,” held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Oyo State.

During his keynote address titled “Harnessing International Education Experience for Local Economic Development,” Makinde emphasized that international education is not just about obtaining a degree abroad. It involves exposure to new ideas, broadening knowledge, mastering advanced skills, and building networks across continents.

He stressed that while foreign education is valuable, it is essential for young people to return home and apply the skills they have acquired to contribute to the country’s development and make a local impact.

The Governor also mentioned that the Oyo State Government will continue to collaborate with foreign investors in the education sector to create pathways for partnerships and increase investment in education.

“Beyond the pursuit of knowledge, we must ask ourselves how we can channel global exposure into local initiatives. As a state, one of our main pillars is education, and we are actively working on both basic and tertiary education. We firmly believe that having a foreign education can facilitate growth in many ways.

“We aim to empower the residents of Oyo State to become global citizens who can contribute to local development. Therefore, when this summit was proposed, we felt it was important to participate as a stakeholder.

“We view this collaboration as a key opportunity to position Oyo State on the global map. Our focus is on empowering entrepreneurs to leverage their skills and knowledge and to bring back what they have learned to improve our society.

“We are not advocating for people to leave Nigeria permanently. Instead, we encourage them to go with the mindset that Nigeria is their home and Oyo State is theirs. We believe they should return and contribute to our development. That’s our message.

“As for sponsorship, we are actively working on it. As a government, we make promises to fulfill them. Locally, we have already sponsored students; for instance, 100 indigenes of Oyo State have received scholarships to study in Malaysia through ISAF. If we can support these students, why wouldn’t we, as a state, invest in our people by providing scholarships for them to acquire skills and return to develop Oyo State?” he added.

In his goodwill message entitled “Equipping the Next Generations: International Education as a Tool for Empowerment,” the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Right Honourable Adebo Ogundoyin, emphasised the critical role of education in driving economic growth and national development.

He praised the organizers for their efforts in empowering youth through international exposure, highlighting that the Oyo State Government has demonstrated its unwavering commitment to education by allocating a substantial ₦145.25 billion, which represents 21.44 percent of the total budget, to the education sector.

Ogundoyin further mentioned that the current administration will soon initiate the renovation of at least 100 secondary schools across the state to complement other educational development programs and investments in school infrastructure, as well as in teachers and students.

Also speaking at the event, the Executive Adviser to the Governor on Agribusiness and Director-General of the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA), Dr Debo Akande, shared how studying abroad in his early years positively influenced his career performance.

He asserted that technical and vocational education should not be viewed as a second option but rather promoted as a pathway to success, fostering creativity, resilience, and adaptability.

Earlier in the programme, an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education and Liberal Arts at INTI International University in Malaysia, Dr Ng Miew Luan, presented a paper titled, “Global Network, Local Solutions: The Power of International Collaboration.”

She explained that experiences gained through international education are not merely personal milestones; they serve as transformative tools that can reshape communities and nations.

Several dignitaries, including Professor Kayode Adebowale, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan; Managing Director of Tribune Newspaper, Dr Edward Dickson; Managing Director of First Bank of Nigeria PLC; Mr Olusegun Alebiosu; Head of Small and Medium Enterprises Banking at UBA Group in Lagos, Mr Ajayi Babatunde, urged youths to take advantage of the opportunities available through studying abroad, seeking knowledge globally while applying innovations locally.

Dr Dickson said, “It is not unusual for Tribune to support this kind of initiative, because the founder of the newspaper, the sage, Pa Obafemi Awolowo, was widely known for his lifelong support of education and his love for all things educational.”

Speaking to newsmen, the Managing Director of TPSeal Education UK, Lady Tolu Eledan, emphasised that the fair was designed to promote global skills among Nigerian youths aspiring to further their education abroad.

She added that the Fair and conference provide expert guidance and comprehensive information for both undergraduate and postgraduate students seeking admission to their preferred institutions.

Eledan noted that the strategic relationships formed during the first edition of this initiative in 2024 have yielded positive results, with 100 students receiving fully-funded scholarships for postgraduate studies worth approximately $16,500 each. This amounts to a total of $1,650,000 in scholarships for Oyo State students.

She encouraged the youth to utilise their international exposure to build stronger local economies and drive meaningful change. Additionally, she advocated for the concept of “JAPADA”—returning home to contribute to national development—rather than the “JAPA” syndrome.

The event was attended by various dignitaries, including the Executive Director of International Strategic Partnership at ISAF25, Mr Peter Eledan; a member representing the Ibarapa North/Ibarapa Central Federal Constituency, Dr Adebayo Adepoju; Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Professor Solihu Adelabu; Commissioner for Youths and Sport, Honourable Wasilat Adegoke, and Commissioner for Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Honourable Williams Akin-Funmilayo.

Other notable attendees include Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Chief Ademola Ojo; Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Seun Ashamu; former Commissioner for Finance in Oyo State, Bimbo Adekanmbi; former Federal House of Representatives member, Honourable Shina Peller; Chancellor of Abiola Ajimobi Technical University, Professor Adesola Ajayi; Chairman of Bicourtney Limited, Dr Wale Babalakin; Pastor (Dr.) Sarah Olubi Johnson; and other stakeholders.