The Education Secretary of the Mushin Local Government Education Authority (LGEA), Hon. Yusuf Ademola Olokodana, has declared that many public primary schools in Mushin and Òdì-Olowo/Ojuwoye now offer better education than several private schools, attributing the development to sustained investment by the Lagos State Government in basic education.

Hon. Olokodana, who returned for a second term as Education Secretary on March 16, 2026, after a ten-year break, said parents should stop assuming that private schools automatically provide better education, insisting that public primary schools now boast qualified teachers, improved facilities and effective government supervision.

According to him, while many private schools rely on poorly paid and unqualified teachers, public schools are staffed with trained professionals who regularly undergo capacity-building programmes to improve teaching standards.

He urged parents, especially those with limited financial resources, to enrol their children in public primary schools, assuring them that they would receive quality education capable of producing outstanding academic results.

"I can confidently say that many of our public primary schools are performing better than several private schools around us. The Lagos State Government has continued to invest in education, and our teachers are qualified, experienced and committed to excellence. Parents should have confidence in public schools," he said.

Reflecting on his return to office, Olokodana commended his predecessor, Princess Olu Akinlude, for sustaining teachers' welfare, sporting activities and pupils' wellbeing. However, he lamented that the authority no longer had operational vehicles despite leaving three vehicles behind at the end of his first tenure.

"I met no operational vehicle on my return, but government is a continuum. We will build on the achievements of the past and address the challenges before us," he stated.

The Education Secretary said his administration has already recorded significant milestones, including the successful promotion and conversion of teaching and non-teaching staff, welfare packages for workers during festive periods and the introduction of the "Thank God It's Friday" initiative, which he said has improved staff morale and reduced truancy among teachers and pupils.

In a bid to tackle vandalism and insecurity in schools, Olokodana disclosed that Mushin LGEA became the first local education authority in Lagos State to install solar-powered CCTV cameras in public primary schools.

He said the initiative was introduced following repeated incidents of theft and vandalism, including the removal of electrical cables and meters at Eleja Primary School.

"With the CCTV cameras, head teachers can monitor their schools in real time from their homes. It is a major step towards protecting government property and ensuring a safer learning environment," he added.

Olokodana, however, identified inadequate security personnel as one of the biggest challenges confronting public primary schools. 

While commending the Òdì-Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA for deploying security guards to schools within its jurisdiction, he appealed for more personnel to protect schools in Mushin, many of which currently depend on the Neighbourhood Watch and local vigilante groups.

The Education Secretary also introduced induction programmes for newly recruited teachers and health officers to acquaint them with the ethics of the profession.

To promote excellence, he said the authority inaugurated Merit Awards for outstanding teachers, non-teaching staff and pupils, while the best seven pupils in an essay competition were appointed one-day Education Secretary and Heads of Units to expose them to leadership.

He further revealed that the LGEA organised a Professional Leadership Summit where military officers, doctors, footballers, teachers, tailors and other professionals interacted with pupils to encourage hard work, career development and respect for the dignity of labour.

Olokodana praised the School Support Services Department for successfully coordinating the recent Common Entrance Examination without any reported irregularities. He also commended education officers for promptly responding to structural defects at St. Paul Primary School, leading to the immediate evacuation of pupils before any tragedy occurred.

Despite the achievements, he said several challenges remain. He called on the chairmen of Mushin Local Government and Òdì-Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA to provide operational vehicles to enable effective monitoring of the 78 public primary schools under the authority.

He lamented that many education officers still use personal funds for transportation while carrying out official assignments.

Hon. Olokodana also appealed for greater autonomy for the Local Government Areas and LCDAs to give the LGEA approval to fill the vacancies that exist according to the Law that established the Universal Basic Education Commission, State Universal Basic Education Board and Local Government Education Authority, arguing that such powers would strengthen accountability and improve school security.

He expressed concern over the poor state of infrastructure in some schools, noting that several classrooms still use blackboards and chalk despite global technological advancement.

He identified Ojuwoye Primary School, Morayo Primary School, Aje Abo Primary School and Igbehinadun Primary School as requiring urgent rehabilitation due to deteriorating buildings.

He further proposed the construction of affordable housing estates for teachers on available government land within school premises, saying the initiative would improve punctuality, classroom attendance and overall productivity.

Hon. Olokodana concluded by appreciating the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, led by Senator Ganiu Olarewaju Solomon, for its continued support for education. He also appealed to the chairmen of Mushin Local Government and Òdì-Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA to intensify investment in public primary education, describing quality basic education as the bedrock of sustainable development.