8PRESS RELEASE. OEQA Celebrates Retired Officer
Lagos State Office of Education Quality Assurance(OEQA) Celebrates Retired Officers
As Commissioner Praises Retirees as Valuable Assets to OEQA
The Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, has lauded the contributions of retired officers of the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA), describing them as one of the State’s most valuable human resources.
Addressing the 2025 retirees during the OEQA Retirees’ Send-Forth and End of the Year Get Together held on Wednesday at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja, Alli-Balogun emphasized that the success of OEQA is a product of the dedication and individual contributions of its retired staff.
The Commissioner, speaking further affirmed the commitment of the Lagos State Government to strengthening education quality assurance across the State, noting that the Ministry will continue to support OEQA through clear policy direction, capacity building and institutional reforms.
Alli-Balogun stressed that sustaining high educational standards remains a top priority of the administration of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, adding that the experience and guidance of retired officers will continue to play a critical role in shaping a resilient and future-ready education system.
He also encouraged the retirees to remain engaged with the Ministry and OEQA. “Though you are retired, you can still contribute greatly to society because I know you are not tired yet. My office remains open to all of you, and I welcome your discussions and valuable input. I assure you that your contributions will always be acknowledged,” he said.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Abisola Dokunmu-Adegbite, congratulated the retirees and urged serving officers to emulate their sterling qualities of integrity, dignity and professionalism.
She likened OEQA evaluators to “police officers of education,” emphasizing the importance of maintaining high standards in their work.
Mrs. Dokunmu-Adegbite further charged serving officers to uphold the core values of the civil service, urging them to carry out their duties with fairness, professionalism and a strong sense of responsibility.
She added that quality assurance remains central to the credibility of the education sector, assuring that the Ministry will continue to provide the necessary support to enable OEQA effectively deliver on its mandate.
The Director-General of OEQA, Dr. Sulaimon Ogunmuyiwa, giving his speech at the event, described his appointment as a “homecoming,” recalling his journey from staff member to the agency’s leadership.
He praised the retirees for their dedication during the “manual labour” years and highlighted their continued importance as mentors and strategic advisors. “Please do not see this retirement as a final exit. Your institutional memory and expertise are assets we cannot afford to lose,” he said.
Looking ahead to 2026, Dr. Ogunmuyiwa outlined a bold vision to transform OEQA from a traditional “policing” agency into a professionalized center of excellence, emphasizing training, international certification and fostering a culture of partnership in school improvement.
A key feature of this vision is automation, aimed at replacing the physically demanding “leg walk” and paper-heavy processes with digital solutions.
He announced plans to launch a Quality Assurance App for external evaluations, enabling real-time reporting and synchronized data management. “We are moving from ‘Paper-Heavy’ to ‘Digital-Ready,’” he stated, promising that OEQA will become “the most technologically advanced quality assurance agency in Africa.”
Dr. Ogunmuyiwa challenged staff to embrace the new standard, leveraging technology to drive excellence, innovation, integrity and impact across school registration, revenue sustainability and overall education quality.
The Director of Administration and Human Resources, Mrs. Mojisola Bamgbose, noted that the celebration of retirees and staff reflects the hard work, creativity and commitment of OEQA personnel to the agency’s mandate.
On behalf of his colleagues, the immediate past Coordinating Director of OEQA and one of the celebrated retirees, Mr. Remi Abdul, thanked the State Government for the opportunity to serve and expressed appreciation for OEQA’s recognition of retirees.
He urged serving officers to support the new Director-General, describing Dr. Ogunmuyiwa as a “round peg in a round hole” and fit for the leadership of the Office.
He further expressed confidence that under the new leadership, OEQA will attain greater heights, remain a model agency and continue to serve as a benchmark for other states.
Mr. Abdul also called on evaluators to continue giving their best to ensure that standards in education quality assurance are consistently upheld.
Adepeju Adeyemi
Deputy Director, Public Affairs (OEQA)
24- December -2025.
