Cultural Advocate Urges Makinde to Immortalise Slain Oyo Teacher with Memorial School

A Yoruba cultural advocate and Lead of Abinibi Hub, Bunmi Adetona, has appealed to the Oyo State Government to immortalise the late Michael Olugbade Oyedokun, a mathematics teacher who was killed during the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of the state, by naming a secondary school after him.

Adetona made the appeal in a statement following renewed concerns over the fate of Oyedokun’s remains, which his family said were yet to be recovered nearly two months after the attack that claimed his life.

The cultural advocate proposed that the state government should establish “Michael Oyedokun Memorial Grammar School, Oriire, Esinele, Oyo State” as a lasting tribute to the late teacher’s sacrifice and dedication to education.

According to Adetona, honouring Oyedokun with a school named after him would preserve his memory, celebrate his contribution to education and serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made by teachers in the course of serving the nation.

The call came shortly after the successful rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers who were taken during the attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area, although the family of the slain teacher said their grief remained unresolved because his body had not been recovered.

Oyedokun was among the teachers abducted when gunmen invaded schools in the Oriire area on May 15, including Community High School, Ahoro Esinele, and other nearby schools, where several pupils and teachers were taken into captivity.

While other victims were later rescued after spending 56 days in captivity, reports confirmed that Oyedokun was killed while in the custody of the abductors, leaving his family and colleagues mourning his death.

The family had earlier appealed to the Federal Government and security agencies to intensify efforts to recover his remains so that he could be given a befitting burial.

In a statement released by his family spokesperson, Oluwabukolami, the family expressed gratitude for the rescue of the pupils and other teachers but said their mourning would continue until Oyedokun’s remains were found and laid to rest.

The family described the inability to recover his body as a painful experience that had denied his wife, children and relatives the opportunity to achieve closure after his tragic death.

The Oyo State Government has not announced any decision on the proposal, but Governor Seyi Makinde had earlier welcomed the rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers, describing the operation as a major breakthrough in efforts to tackle violent crime in the state.

Adetona maintained that immortalising Oyedokun would not only honour his memory but also encourage future generations to appreciate the dedication of teachers who contribute to building society despite the risks associated with their profession.

The late teacher’s family, colleagues and members of the public continue to await the recovery of his remains as security agencies sustain efforts to bring those responsible for the attack to justice.

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