16-Year-Old Oluwagbemisoke Alaka Serves as Ogun State’s One-Day Commissioner for Education

A 16-year-old student, Oluwagbemisoke Alaka, served as Ogun State’s One-Day Commissioner for Education after winning an essay competition, using the role to advocate for improved ICT facilities and teacher welfare while gaining firsthand experience in educational leadership.

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Oluwagbemisoke Alaka, a 16-year-old SS3 student of African Grammar School in Ita Iyalode, Abeokuta, stepped into public service on Thursday as she assumed the position of Ogun State’s One-Day Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology.

A Glimpse Into Public Service

Alaka arrived at the Ministry’s headquarters in Oke-Mosan at about 9:45 a.m., where she was greeted by the state’s substantive Commissioner, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, alongside other top officials.
Throughout her day in office, she visited various departments, signed official papers, and observed the day-to-day administrative work involved in managing the state’s education system.

Her selection followed her emergence as the overall winner of an essay competition organized by the Adebiyi Habib Foundation, which drew participation from more than 300 students across Ogun State. The contest aimed to identify exceptional students and promote leadership among young people.

Prof. Arigbabu commended her outstanding performance, noting that the initiative serves as an incentive for students to stay committed to academic excellence.
“Alaka has distinguished herself brilliantly, and we believe her experience will inspire many others to strive for success,” he said.

Alaka Calls for Stronger ICT Support in Schools

During her brief administration, Alaka used the opportunity to highlight the need for increased government investment in digital learning. She noted that national examinations—including JAMB and WAEC—now rely heavily on computer-based testing, making access to functional ICT facilities essential for students.

“Students in Ogun State deserve adequate preparation for the digital shift,” she said. “Only a small number of public schools currently have working CBT centres, and deliberate policies are needed to close this gap.”

She also emphasized teacher motivation and welfare, stressing that the strength of any education system depends on the competence and well-being of its teachers.
While acknowledging the progress made in the state’s education sector over the past six years, she encouraged the government to continue improving learning conditions and outcomes.

Habib Adebiyi, founder of the Adebiyi Habib Foundation, explained that the One-Day Commissioner programme was created to nurture leadership qualities among students.
“In the last three years, our projects have touched over 50,000 students directly or indirectly,” he said. “We want initiatives like this to inspire academic and leadership excellence.”

Reflecting on her experience, Alaka described the day as transformational. She said it motivated her to keep aiming high and encouraged other students across Ogun State to pursue their ambitions with confidence and determination.

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SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, GISTREEL