By Modupe Bankole
The Chairman of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (OYOSUBEB), Dr. Nureni Adeniran, has stressed the importance of early mentorship and quality teaching in grooming pupils in public schools to become responsible leaders and professionals of the future.
Dr. Adeniran stated this on Today at Ansar-Ud-Deen Primary School, Oke-Foko, Ibadan, while officially launching the “Catch Them Young” initiative, a grassroots talent discovery programme aimed at identifying, nurturing, and mainstreaming special talents among pupils in public primary schools across Oyo State.
The SUBEB chairman, accompanied by the lawmaker representing Ibadan South West II in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Oluwafemi Fowokanmi, and the Political Head of Ibadan West Local Government Development Area, Hon. Tajudeen Adigun, arrived at the school shortly before the morning assembly, generating excitement among pupils who welcomed Dr. Adeniran as a proud alumnus of the school.
Addressing the pupils during the assembly, Dr. Adeniran urged them to believe in themselves, noting that their background or school should never limit their ambitions. “If some of us passed through this same school and were able to get to where we are today, then you can even become greater than us,” he said. “The kind of school you attend or the area you come from should never stop you from achieving your dreams.”
He expressed confidence that public schools remain breeding grounds for future leaders, stating that “from schools like this, we will still produce lawyers, doctors, engineers, commissioners, governors, senators and even presidents.”
Reflecting on reforms under his leadership since 2019, Dr. Adeniran said public primary schools in the state have witnessed remarkable transformation. “When I came in as SUBEB chairman, the situation of our public schools was not encouraging. But today, there is visible growth and development,” he noted.
According to him, Ansar-Ud-Deen Primary School has benefited from new constructions, renovation of classrooms, and the erection of perimeter fencing to improve safety and learning conditions.
“There was no fence here before, but today the school is well secured, renovated and beautiful. The learning environment is now conducive, and I am confident the pupils will take advantage of this to learn better,” he added.
Dr. Adeniran further attributed increased enrolment in public schools to the free education policy of the Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration. “Since the introduction of free education, we have seen a surge in enrolment as many children who had dropped out returned to school,” he said, stressing the need for continuous investment to meet the growing population of school-age children.
Calling on parents to support government efforts, the SUBEB chairman , Dr Adeniran emphasized parental responsibility in child development. “Government is providing free education, but parents must also play their part. They should clothe their children, feed them, buy books and guide them properly. This is their future,” he said, recounting how a letter written by his primary school teacher to his father helped shape his upbringing.
In their separate remarks, Hon. Oluwafemi Fowokanmi and Hon. Tajudeen Adigun commended the “Catch Them Young” initiative, describing it as a strategic move to strengthen public education at the grassroots. Hon. Fowokanmi noted that “the majority of our children are in public schools, and any serious effort at nation-building must start from strengthening the public school system.”
Similarly, Hon. Adigun said the programme would help “discover talents early, redirect young minds positively and build a solid foundation for leadership and societal development.”
The “Catch Them Young” programme is a brainchild of BrightLens Media Network, designed to identify and nurture exceptional talents in public schools across Oyo State. Beyond talent discovery, the initiative seeks to address declining moral values by instilling discipline, confidence, and purpose in young learners, thereby preparing them for a brighter and more responsible future.
