Mrs. Oyefunke Ojo-Adepoju, the retiring Principal who gave the charge at her exit ceremony held at Babs Fafunwa Millenium Senior Grammar School, Ojodu, Ikeja, stated that the Lagos State Teaching Service Commission, being a purveyor of excellence will continue to promote decency in schools across the State.

She pointed out that the State Government is desirous of providing the right environment for teachers across the state to influence the life of school children positively, noting that tutors must, therefore, balance their efforts with professional conduct.

“Having realised the significance of education towards building responsible, competent, truthful and resourceful citizens, the State Government has given priority to the educational sector in the THEMES Agenda”, she revealed.

While appreciating the State Government for the privilege to serve the people, she said the educational system will continue to be a conduit to achieving the overall development and growth of the country.

Speaking further, the foremost school administrator said, during her 35 years in service, the educational system in the State has witnessed tremendous improvement, adding that she foresees a system that will be dignified by its product.

Mrs. Ojo-Adepoju, who is a graduate of the University of Ilorin started her work career as a Teacher at the then Ogba Grammar School and rose to become the Tutor and Head of Department in the school in 1995. She also spent a few years as a classroom teacher at State High School, Oko-Oba and Ijaye Ojokoro Senior High School, under Education District 1.

In 2002, she was appointed the Vice Principal of Ogba Junior Grammar School before becoming the pioneer principal of Ojodu Junior High School in 2007. She was appointed the Principal of Babs Fafunwa Millenium Senior Grammar School in 2014 and rose to become the Zonal Chairman of Ikeja ANCOPSS in the same year.

Amiable and easy-going, the retired Principal was the immediate past and the First Vice-President of All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCHORPS), Lagos Chapter.

In his remark, the National Representative of Nigeria Union of Teachers, Lagos State Wing, Comrade Akintoye Hassan described the educationist as a symbol of commitment and outstanding leadership whose passion for teaching has earned her affection among colleagues.

“She is a marvellous leader, intelligent, passion-driven and a bridge builder. She has been a role model to both teachers and students, leaving indelible marks in schools that she had taught and administered.

The occasion was graced by Permanent Secretaries, School Principals, Directors in the State Education Service, Teachers and other well-wishers.

During a teleconference from Ghana headquarters of the examining body, on Wednesday, Uwadiae told reporters at the WAEC International Office in Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos State, hat his seven-year tenure (consisting a five-year official tenure and two-year extension) as the 12th registrar of the council, was successful.

However, he has refused to name his successor, stating that who had been appointed, would be named when he assumes office on October 1, 2019.

Recall that he took over from another Nigerian, Alhaja Mulikat Bello, on October 1, 2012.

He said, “I anticipate that you will be anxious to know who is going to succeed me. I am glad to inform you that my successor has been appointed. I will, however, want to appeal to you to grant me the indulgence of not unveiling the personality at this forum. As you are quite aware, the Council has an official process of doing so soon, after assumption of office. There will be a press release or conference to that effect.”

During his tenure, Uwadiae said the council completed its headquarters, which took 15 years to build, in 2016.

The registrar said Liberia fully adopted the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) last year, while the Council increased additional diets of the WASSCE and Basic Education Certificate Examination for private candidates in member-countries.

To prevent examination malpractice and leakages, the Registrar said the Council acquired facilities to print in-house.

“The secretariat paid the deserved attention to the issue of examination leakage and resolved to settle for nothing short of total eradication of the nuisance. We pursued a status of self-reliance in printing services, which could guarantee our set target of 100 per cent in-house printing of question papers.

“As at now, each national office has reached a certain stage in the establishment of an in-house printing press. Other types of malpractice also received our deepest reflection, as the Council constructed or furnished for use its own standard/model examination halls in places like Lagos and Benin City in Nigeria, Accra, Cape Coast, Wa and Koforidua in Ghana and Tubmanburg in Liberia,” he said.

On the use of technology, Uwadiae said the Council under him used software and various gadgets to prevent and check examination malpractices.

“We built tighter security around our examination materials and conduct as various gadgets and software were deployed for identification of candidates, capturing of data and detection of irregularities at examination centres,” he said.