OLUDIPE MATHEMATICS INITIATIVE: TUTOR-GENERAL LAUDS FOUNDER’S COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT 

The Tutor/Permanent Secretary (TG/PS) Education District III, Dr. Idowu Olufunke Oyetola, has commended Mrs. Odubolanle Oludipe, the founder of Odubolanle Oludipe Mathematics Initiative (OOMI) and Vice Principal of St. Patrick’s Senior Grammar School, Eredo, Epe for her passion for the development and improvement of mathematics education in the district and Lagos State.  

Dr. Oyetola gave the commendations in her remarks at the second edition of the annual lecture and award ceremony of the Foundation held recently at Epe Senior Grammar School Hall, Epe, Lagos State.  

The TG/PS, who doubled as the Chief Host was represented at the occasion by the Head of Schools Administration, Epe Zone of the District, Mrs. Abiodun Adefuye, who congratulated the founder on the laudable initiative which is dedicated to the teaching and learning of mathematics, saying “You have really impacted the lives of so many mathematics teachers and students and allowed so many students to put in more interest in the learning of mathematics”. 

The Tutor-General further stated the initiative has really complemented the government efforts at training and retraining teachers which is necessary for improving their pedagogical skills, adding that it will also lead to the improvement in the academic performance of mathematics students in the district and Lagos State. 

Earlier, the Founder of Odubolanle Oludipe Mathematics Initiative (OOMI), Mrs. Odubolanle Oluremi Oludipe commended the Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary Education District III, Dr. Idowu Oyetola for her support and encouragement.  

She said: “The foundation came into existence as a result of my passion for the development and improvement of mathematics education in the district and Lagos State. The foundation is a child of necessity born out of my desire to complement government efforts at training and retaining teachers which are necessary for improving teachers’ knowledge and skills. This by extension would lead to improvement in academic performance of the students”.

Oludipe, however, admonished teachers to be good role models and teach using methods that will enable the students to learn better, advising teachers not to be too harsh on their students, but to correct and guide them appropriately. 

Also speaking at the event, the Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary of Education District IV, Mr. Olusegun Osinaike, whose daughter Miss. Rachael Ayoola Osinaike of Epe Girls Senior High School was awarded the Best Mathematics Students, Senior Category through an online mathematics quiz competition organised by the foundation, equally felicitated with the convener of Odubolanle Oludipe Mathematics Initiative (OOMI). 

 “Mathematics is not an easy subject as many students run away from it as a subject. God has however used a virtuous woman to break mathematics into the simplest subject. It is a joyous day and l am elated to witness the second edition of the annual lecture and award ceremony of the foundation. I feel great for my daughter to have received an award for the best mathematics students by OOMI”, he said. 

The Guest Lecturer, a Professor of Mathematics at Tai Solarin University of Education and former Rector of D.S Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori-Ewekoro, Prof. Olufemi Fatade, while delivering his paper on the theme of the event: “Mathematical Problem Solving Skills: A Panacea to Improving Secondary School Students Performance in Mathematics”, stated that teachers’ method of subject delivery across the various levels of education in Nigeria has been described as inadequate and worrisome.  

According to Fatade: “The panacea to the above cankerworm which has eaten deep into the nation’s technological growth is the shift from the traditional method of teaching that encourage role learning to modern methods of teaching that makes each student actively participate, interact and dialogue with their peer in a friendly learners community classroom environment”. 

The high point of the event was the presentation of awards to TG/PS of Education District III, Dr. (Mrs.) Idowu Oyetola; the TG/PS of Education District IV, Mr. Olusegun Osinaike; the Guest Lecturer Professor Olufemi Fatade and eight other students from the Junior and Senior Secondary School in the district that won the 1st to 4th positions in the online mathematics quiz competition of Odubolanle Oludipe Mathematics Initiative (OOMI).