Mr Jamiu Alli-Balogun: Lagos State's Commissioner For Basic And Secondary Education
Recognised by Nkuzify as Leading Teachers and Educators of the Year.
Behind every classroom there is a system, and somebody has to run it. On this World Teachers' Day, Nkuzify looks at Mr Jamiu Alli-Balogun, the Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, one of the leaders who run Nigeria's education systems.
Who He Is
Mr Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun was sworn in on 13 September 2023 by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. He is firm where firmness is needed. In January 2025 the News Agency of Nigeria reported him saying that the era of mass promotion in Lagos schools was over, that students who do not qualify for the next class must repeat, and that any teacher caught selling marks would be dismissed. He has also raised concern about weak WASSCE results, noting that Lagos pays the exam registration fees for all SS3 students in state schools.
Alongside that firm hand he has a plan for children who are not in school at all. Discover Lagos reports on Project Zero, an effort to end the problem of out-of-school children, and says he asked the Office of Education Quality Assurance to monitor both public and private schools. He also supports technical and vocational education and encourages girls to take up science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
On a World Teachers' Day after he took office, he told the Lagos wing of the National Union of Teachers that the state sees its teachers as the cornerstone of its work for quality teaching and learning.
Why Nkuzify celebrates him. He is strict with anyone who cuts corners and generous toward teachers who do the work. That mix of high standards and respect is what we want every school leader to practise.
Where this comes from: Wikipedia, News Agency of Nigeria, Discover Lagos, Voice of Nigeria and Tribune Online.
Meet The Other Leaders
Dr Tunji Alausa, Dr Lawal Olohungbebe, Dr Donatus Ilang, Professor Amari Omaka. You can also go back to the full list: The Leaders Who Run Nigeria's Education Systems.
Thank You
Happy Teachers' Day to Mr Jamiu Alli-Balogun, and to every leader who works to make learning better in Nigeria, from all of us at Nkuzify.
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