OgunTEACh
OpenLife Nigeria reports that Ogun State has long faced a paradox familiar across Nigeria: public schools struggling with chronic teacher shortages, and young graduates finding limited entry points into meaningful employment. Classrooms often went unattended, while graduates, particularly those with an education degree, stalled at the threshold of the labour market.
To tackle both challenges simultaneously, the Ogun State Government launched OgunTEACh, a two-year, paid Teaching Experience Acquisition Programme, under Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration.
Since 2022, the initiative has remained a cornerstone of the state’s strategy to strengthen education delivery and expand structured pathways into employment for young Nigerians.
Across Ogun, public schools, particularly in rural areas, have traditionally grappled with an inadequate number of teachers. The programme’s impact extends beyond internships. Recent absorption of OgunTEACh interns into full-time positions has bolstered the teaching workforce.
On Teachers’ Day 2025, Governor Abiodun noted that over 4,000 teachers employed through initiatives including OgunTEACh had been retained or absorbed into the state’s service, alongside plans for smart classrooms and improved teacher welfare.
In January 2026, the government engaged 448 interns under OgunTEACh, issuing them engagement and posting letters to support classroom instruction, especially in rural primary schools where staffing gaps were greatest.
Governor Dapo Abiodun positions OgunTEACh as part of a broader education and human capital development agenda, emphasising the dual objectives of strengthening schools and empowering youth.
“Our administration is committed to strengthening education delivery by ensuring that schools are adequately staffed and that our youth have real pathways into work and professional growth.
Initiatives like OgunTEACh reflect this dual vision, supporting learners today while investing in tomorrow’s workforce,” he said,
OgunTEACh participants serve under supervision, reducing the workload on full-time teachers and ensuring more consistent learning for pupils. The structured experience not only improves classroom management but also gives young graduates practical exposure and professional mentoring essential for transitioning from school to the workforce.
Across successive cohorts, OgunTEACh interns drawn from regions including Ijebu, Egba, and Yewa have expressed appreciation for the opportunity to contribute to their communities.
While formal quotes are not published, reports indicate that participants view the programme as a meaningful first step into professional life, with many committed to performing their duties diligently in schools.
By combining practical teaching assignments, professional development, and employment opportunities, OgunTEACh demonstrates how targeted interventions can strengthen public services and create pathways to youth employment.
As the programme scales with ongoing recruitment and expansion across primary and secondary schools, OgunTEACh exemplifies a model for other states seeking to address both unemployment and educational quality.
In the state, classrooms have become more than learning spaces: they are stepping stones for graduates, platforms for skill-building, and engines of local economic empowerment.
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