Mr Murisiq Taiwo Balogun is
the education secretary of Ifako Ijaye Local Government, Lagos.He graduated
from the then Ogun state university now Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye,
Ogun State. He bagged master degree in education administration from University
of Lagos (Unilag).He told us some of the responsible factors for declining
in Nigeria Education system. He told our team of how he become the education
secretary when we visited him in his office.
Sir, you are the education secretary
of Ifako Ijaiye local government, can you tell us the journey to this post?
The journey to this post is
competitive and political. In 1997, I vied for the post of House of
Representative from this local government and I couldn’t make it, so I decided
to wait for God time. When the education secretary post was vacant, I submitted
my Curriculum Vitae (CV) since I have all the required qualifications. So at
the interview, eleven of us were the candidate and fortunately, I have worked
with many of the interviewers in different capacity at the State Universal
Basic Education Board (SUBEB). After the interview, Alhaji Adeleke of blessed
memory took me to Engineer Rauf Aregbesola and he told me that, I shouldn’t
worry since I have all the required qualifications. I later went to see
Cardinal Odumbaku(Baba Eto) and to the glory of God, I was picked. My
appointment letter was then sent to my local government and Mr. Doherty, the
executive chairman of Ifako Ijaye local government and Mr Olabinjo, the
executive chairman of Ojokoro local council development area (LCDA) signed my
letter. I thank them all.
The recent declining in Nigeria
Education system is worrisome, what do you think as education secretary and
administrator is responsible for the problem?
I think Nigeria is facing problem on
every sectors and education sector is not exceptional. Tell me which one of our
sector is working well? Is it the power sector or health? So I think the
problem facing education sector can be best `being described as a collective of
a whole. The entire problem facing other sector will still be blamed on
education sector. They will tell you that the teacher is not dispensing good
teaching and that is the reason we are having half baked students and
graduates. But they will not talk about unpaid incentives that can motivate
teachers to go extra mile to teach students. When last did the government give
teachers rice and milk at festive period as they do in the past? Teacher’s
salary is token and many of them retired without anything to fall back to. So
let government begins the practical implementation of some programs like
mortgage loan for teacher, training and re-training and other things, you
will see a lot of complimentary effort from the teachers. Lagos state is even
trying, but they still need to do more. They should improve more on modernizing
education infrastructures and build more schools because Lagos population on
education is increasing everyday.
Even if government do all that, do
you think the students doesn’t have any work to do as well?
Not only the students including the
parents. Some parents are not care about the performances of their wards in the
school. Many of them did not even have the time. They go to work very early in
the morning and return in the late night. All of us have work to do. The
parents must be concerned about the education of their children. They must find
time to come to their children school and make enquiry about their
performances. We understand the economic situation of the country, but they
need to know how their children are doing in the school. The students on their
part must be commited to their reading. Some of them are not suppose to be in
the university or polytechnic. Some of them suppose to in technical school.
Parents need to change their approach towards education if we want this country
education to go back to its glossy days. Not all students have the
intellectuality of going to the higher institution, but because of the
emphasize we laid on tertiary education, parents at times manipulate processes
for their children and you will see such student fumbling when admitted into
the university.
You are very famous with the
executive governor of Osun State Engineer Rauf Aregbesola, how will you
describe him and what is your relationship with him?
I can tell you that Engineer Rauf
Adesoji Aregbesola is my boss and my father. He is such a nice man and
straightforward person. He believes in the youth and if he knows you, he will
use all what he had to support you. He is a leader and organizer and he never
look down on anybody. He is humble and a listening leader. Somebody took me to
him as I said and ever since then he has done a lot of things for me and I will
never forget him. I am just one of many he has helped and I wish him
fulfillment, joy and happiness as governor and person.
Can you share with us the big
challenge you ever faced?
I have started living as an
independent person even while I’m still living with my parents. My father of
blessed memory paid all my school fees from 100-400 level when I was in the
university. But I have to get other things myself like foodstuff, underwear,
provision and cloth. So during the holiday, I involved in many things like bus
conductor and travelling to cotonou to buy things and sold here. So the
experience then was terrible .Another thing is that I lose my first wife who
had my first son and that really posed a serious challenge on me but today I
thank Allah.
What next are you looking up to
after the education secretary?
Any post that can make me to serve my
people better
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