The Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, has described the newly established Ogun State Education and Skills Trust Fund as an initiative capable of sustaining investment in education and human capital development beyond the lifespan of individual government projects.
Akinmade made the observation in a commentary following Governor Dapo Abiodun’s signing of the Education and Skills Trust Fund Bill into law on Friday. The law establishes a statutory framework for mobilising additional resources for education and skills development in the state.
According to him, the significance of the legislation lies in creating a more durable financing mechanism outside the state’s regular annual budgetary process. The fund is expected to support educational infrastructure, bursaries, teacher development, maintenance of school facilities, vocational and technical training, and skills acquisition.
Akinmade said the initiative could also help modernise Ogun’s traditional apprenticeship system by providing more structured training, relevant technology, certification, occupational standards and basic enterprise-management skills.
He noted that education should be viewed not only as a social service but also as an investment in the productive capacity of society, arguing that skilled and adaptable people are essential to operating industries, managing businesses and sustaining economic development.
The fund’s proposed interventions include rehabilitation and equipping of classrooms, laboratories and libraries, as well as support for students through bursaries and professional development opportunities for teachers.
Akinmade also highlighted the skills-development component, saying it could complement Ogun’s industrial and commercial growth by producing technicians, artisans, machine operators, electricians, welders, fabricators, digital specialists and other workers required by the labour market.
He, however, stressed that the passage of the law alone would not guarantee improved educational outcomes, noting that its effectiveness would depend on adequate funding, transparent administration, accountability, equitable distribution and proper monitoring of results.
The governor’s aide further said the fund should complement rather than replace the state’s regular education budget, adding that government would still have the responsibility of adequately funding the sector.
The Education and Skills Trust Fund Law was passed by the Ogun State House of Assembly before receiving the governor’s assent. Speaker Oludaisi Elemide said the legislation would strengthen the delivery of quality education and improve outcomes across the state.
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