On Friday, the Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, sanctioned the creation of the Ondo State Senior Secondary School Education Board (OSSEC) to enhance the development and oversight of infrastructure within the state’s secondary education sector.
According to sources, this initiative stems from a Federal Government mandate under the NSSEC Act, which requires all 36 states to contribute a 5% counterpart fund aimed at improving infrastructure in secondary schools nationwide.
Professor Igbekele Ajibefun, the Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, revealed this development during a briefing at his office in Akure, the state capital.
He emphasized that OSSEC will work in partnership with the National Senior Secondary School Education Commission (NSSEC) to tackle the current infrastructural challenges facing Senior Secondary Schools in Ondo State.
“Governor Aiyedatiwa’s administration is fully committed to aligning with the Federal Government’s vision to modernize and upgrade secondary school facilities,” the Commissioner stated.
Professor Ajibefun also commended the governor‘s dedication to implementing sustainable educational reforms.
Dr. Akindele Ige, Administrative Secretary of the Ministry and a member of the OSSEC founding committee, highlighted that the board’s establishment will facilitate increased funding for school administration and critical infrastructure projects, which is expected to drive higher student enrollment throughout the state.
It is important to note that the responsibilities of OSSEC are clearly delineated: while the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEC) will continue overseeing infrastructure from primary through Junior Secondary School Three (JSS3), OSSEC will exclusively manage facilities and development for Senior Secondary Schools (SSS1 to SSS3).
Once fully operational, OSSEC will function as a subsidiary agency under the State Ministry of Education, ensuring its activities complement rather than conflict with other educational institutions within Ondo State.
