LAGOS STATE OFFICE OF EDUCATION QUALITY ASSURANCE TASKS OFFICERS ON PRODUCTIVITY
The Lagos State Government, through the Office of Education Quality Assurance, has enhanced the capacity of its quality assurance officials to ensure effective monitoring and compliance with educational standards.
Addressing about 350 evaluators from the OEQA on Monday in Lagos during the flag-off ceremony of a four-day training workshop for evaluators, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, emphasised the need for professionalism in carrying out their duties.
He charged the officers to be firm, objective, yet courteous in their dealings with school owners and administrators, stressing that they should be regarded as progressive partners who must be guided to conform to the educational standards of the state.
The Coordinating Director of OEQA, Remi Abdul, while addressing the evaluators, emphasised the importance of professionalism and integrity as key drivers of effective quality assurance operations.
He said the theme of the workshop, “Strengthening Professionalism and Integrity for Effective Quality Assurance Operations,” was strategically chosen to underscore the importance of integrity in carrying out evaluation exercises.
“Our responsibility goes beyond compliance checks. It is about modelling excellence, upholding standards, and reinforcing the confidence of stakeholders in the Lagos State education system,” he said.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Basic and Secondary Education, Opeyemi Eniola, implored participants at the workshop to sustain the tempo of excellence for which Lagos State had been known over the years.
He said, “Don’t let down the guard of excellence. Continue to play the lead role by upholding the quality of education which has made Lagos State a cynosure of all eyes and a point of reference for other states in the country.”
Delivering the keynote address at the workshop, the Director of General Nigerian Studies at Lagos State University, Ojo, Prof. Mohammed Babatunde, commended the government for organising the capacity-building exercise, noting that the theme was not only timely but also strategic in safeguarding the future of education in the state.
LAGOS OEQA DEMANDS MENTORSHIP, HIGHER PRODUCTIVITY FROM SENIOR OFFICERS
… Concludes Four-Day Training On Strategic Leadership, Professional Conduct
The Lagos State Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA), has charged its senior officials to embrace mentorship and raise the bar of productivity in the discharge of their duties, as part of renewed efforts to strengthen professionalism in the education sector.
The charge came at the close of a four-day Strategic Leadership and Professional Conduct Training Workshop held recently in Lagos for OEQA Directors and Senior management staff.
Speaking at the event, the Coordinating Director of OEQA, Mr. Remi Abdul, reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to entrenching a culture of integrity, accountability, and result-driven leadership across its operations.
According to him, mentorship is not only vital for grooming the next generation of leaders within the system but also essential for sustaining quality assurance in schools across the state.
“The essence of this training is to empower our senior officials to lead by example, guide younger officers, and drive greater efficiency in our operations. As an agency that safeguards education standards, we cannot afford to compromise on professionalism or productivity,” Abdul said.
Presenting a paper titled: “Understanding the Work of the Agency: The Leadership Challenge”, Abdul stressed that leadership in OEQA must balance innovation with tradition while upholding integrity in the face of temptation.
“Leadership in OEQA is not about titles, but responsibility,” he said. “It is about ensuring that every child in Lagos State learns in a safe, inclusive, and conducive environment.”
He further identified key leadership priorities including transparent communication, institutional culture building, stakeholder management, consistency in evaluation, and maintaining public trust.
In another presentation, the Coordinating Director, Education District V, Dr. Olusegun Adekunle, spoke on the Roles and Responsibilities of Directors and Top Management in Incorporating Public Service Rules (PSR) into OEQA functions.
He emphasised that directors must remain custodians of standards within the state’s education sector by ensuring learner safety, protecting child rights, and promoting the public interest.
According to him, true leadership is strengthened by strict adherence to Public Service Rules, with the ultimate goal of providing quality education for every Lagos learner.
He further stressed that evaluators must not only interpret and enforce the Public Service Rules but also serve as role models for accountability, transparency, and ethical conduct while carrying out their assigned responsibilities.
Dr. Adekunle also highlighted the need for continuous capacity building, noting that directors and top management must stay updated on emerging trends, policies, and reforms in the education sector.
He maintained that such proactive leadership will ensure that the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA) continues to discharge its mandate effectively, while aligning with the overall vision of the Lagos State Government for excellence in education service delivery.
Also speaking was the Director of the Private Education & Special Programme Department, OEQA, Dr. Sulaiman Ogunmuyiwa, who presented a paper on “OEQA Future Roadmap: Challenges and Strategies for Departmental Excellence.”
He highlighted the need for capacity building, staff empowerment, and the establishment of a dedicated training unit to address the evolving needs of OEQA officers and school owners.
Dr. Ogunmuyiwa also encouraged leveraging technology and artificial intelligence in quality assurance processes, predicting that evaluators may soon be able to conduct remote assessments without being physically present in schools.
Expressing optimism about the workshop’s impact, he noted that the theme “Strengthening Professionalism and Integrity for Effective Quality Assurance Operations” aligns with OEQA’s reform agenda to reposition the office as a model of educational oversight in Nigeria.
He, therefore, urged directors and evaluators to recommit to building a stronger OEQA that inspires public trust and contributes significantly to Lagos State’s ongoing educational transformation.
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Adepeju Adeyemi
DD, Public Affairs
12-09-2025.
