EX- Governor Rashidi Ladoja of Oyo State has assured the people of the state that Governor Seyi Makinde’s renewed effort in the education sector in the state would soon pay off.

Ladoja made this known at a public presentation of series of books titled ‘history and leadership in education for primary and secondary schools in Nigeria’ authored by the president of Reading Awareness Society for Development in Africa (RASDA), Mrs. Bukola Ladoja, held at the Banquet Hall, Premier Hotel, Ibadan, on Monday.

The occasion was also used to mark the 75th birthday of Ladoja and was chaired by Emeritus Professor of History, Bolanle Awe.

The former governor who started by saying “let’s make education what it should be – free and accessible, and that is what the present government is trying to do”, urged Governor Makinde to aim higher in his bid to return the glory of education to pacesetting status in the state.

According to him, “it was sad that our state was constantly coming last in the southern Nigerian in the WAEC ratings, and it’s not difficult to change.

“I can assure you that by the time we had the next WAEC, with what the present government is putting in place, we’ll do much better than states that had been beaten us.

“Between 2003 and 2007, we were second on the rating behind Katsina, state of former President Yar’Adua.

“With this pace and within a short time, Oyo State should move from 27 to a unit position. I am not expecting us to jump to number one, but at least number five.”