Ogun intensifies public health, road safety and education reforms

By Popoola Jamiu, Abeokuta

The Ogun State Government has reinforced its commitment to public health, road safety and educational development through a series of initiatives aimed at improving the well-being of residents, promoting responsible road use and enhancing professional standards in the teaching profession.

At activities marking the 2026 World Blood Donor Day Campaign, the Ogun State Head of Service, Mr. Olanrewaju Saka, alongside medical experts, urged residents to embrace regular blood donation as a life-saving humanitarian act.

The campaign, organised by the State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Hospitals Management Board at the Arcade Ground, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, and the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, highlighted the critical role of voluntary blood donation in healthcare delivery.

Speaking during the event, Saka encouraged workers across the state to participate actively in blood donation exercises, stressing that a simple act of generosity could mean the difference between life and death for patients in need.

According to him, citizens must renew their commitment to compassion, service and collective responsibility by donating blood willingly and encouraging others to do the same.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, noted that blood remains an irreplaceable medical resource that cannot be manufactured, emphasizing that hospitals depend entirely on the goodwill of voluntary donors.

Speaking on the theme, “One Drop of Humanity: Give Blood, Save Lives,” Coker described blood donation as a simple but powerful act capable of giving patients a second chance at life.

She commended voluntary and unpaid blood donors whose contributions continue to support patients requiring emergency care, surgeries, cancer treatment, childbirth services and the management of life-threatening conditions.

Medical expert, Dr. Olabisi Gbotoso, during a sensitisation lecture, addressed misconceptions surrounding blood donation. She explained that prospective donors undergo proper medical screening to determine their suitability and noted that donors also benefit from routine health assessments and the body’s natural process of producing fresh blood.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Kayode Oladeinde, observed that despite advances in medical science and transfusion technology, the human donor remains the most critical component of blood banking systems.

Also speaking, Director of Medical Laboratory Services at the Hospitals Management Board, Mrs. Comfort Akintunde, reiterated the importance of blood donation, stressing that every blood type is valuable because someone’s survival may depend on it.

The event featured voluntary blood donation by several participants, led by Commissioner Coker, who donated 450 millilitres of blood, a quantity capable of saving up to three lives.

TRACE Warns Against Traffic Violations

In a related development, the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) intensified its advocacy for safer roads by organising a one-day sensitisation programme on the dangers of traffic violations.

The programme, held at the Panseke Skating Ground in Abeokuta, brought together transport stakeholders, security agencies and road users to discuss factors responsible for road accidents.

The TRACE Commander General, Commander Elias Omonayajo, represented by the agency’s Public Education Officer, Commander Toyin Fatoberu, identified over-speeding, dangerous driving, human error, mechanical failures, poor vehicle maintenance, drunk driving and environmental factors as major causes of road crashes.

He urged commercial drivers and other motorists to ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy before embarking on journeys, assuring participants that TRACE would continue public enlightenment campaigns to reduce accidents across the state.

Fatoberu stressed that many road tragedies were avoidable and called on transport unions and community leaders to play active roles in promoting responsible driving habits.

Speaking earlier, Ogun Central Zonal Commander, Commander Olubori Sonde, described road traffic crashes as one of the leading causes of death in society, adding that the sensitisation programme reflected a collective commitment to making roads safer.

The agency’s Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Commander Sola Ojuoro, reiterated TRACE’s zero-tolerance stance on road crashes and emphasized the importance of stakeholder collaboration in strengthening emergency response mechanisms and road safety advocacy.

Responding on behalf of transport operators, the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) representative in Panseke, Mr. Tunji Fadipe, commended TRACE for the initiative and pledged continued cooperation in educating drivers within the union on safe road practices.

Representatives of various transport unions, including the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Amalgamated Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (AMORAN), Tricycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (TORAN), Dangote Group and security agencies attended the programme.

SUBEB Pushes for Teacher Professional Licensing

Meanwhile, the Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has called on teachers across the state to register with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) as part of efforts to strengthen professionalism in the education sector.

Addressing stakeholders from the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Association of Primary School Teachers of Nigeria (APSTON) and Association of Primary School Headteachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON) at a meeting in Abeokuta, SUBEB Chairman, Evangelist Olalekan Ifede, said teacher registration and licensing were in line with national education policy.

He urged teachers who have not obtained the required qualifications or professional certification to commence the registration process immediately and ensure compliance before the 2027 deadline.

Ifede reaffirmed the board’s commitment to improving learning outcomes in public primary schools and ensuring that pupils acquire effective reading, writing and communication skills.

The Director of Academic and School Services, Mrs. Kehinde Anifowose, also appealed to education stakeholders and union leaders to mobilise teachers in their respective jurisdictions to complete the registration process before the stipulated deadline.

Speaking on behalf of the teaching profession, Ogun State NUT Chairman, Comrade Sewakanu Noah, commended the board’s leadership for advancements recorded in the basic education sector, noting that the digitisation of TRCN registration processes had simplified payment and enrolment procedures.

Earlier, the Director of Administration and Supplies, Mr. Femi Fatade, encouraged participants to contribute innovative ideas that would support the continued growth of basic education in the state.