THE Oyo State government has said, that, it is poised to do the needful to access the sum of N2,724,516,373.70 (Two Billion, seven hundred and twenty four million, five hundred and sixteen thousand, three hundred and seventy three Naira, seventy kobo), outstanding fund from the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEC), adding that this would boost the Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration’s effort at improving education delivery in the state.
Speaking during an advocacy visit by a team from Universal Basic Education Board, the Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, OyoSUBEB, Dr. Nureni Adeniran, said the state would leave no stone unturned to ensure every grant for the promotion of Education in the state is accessed.
“Government will ensure that Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board benefits from every unassessed fund at UBEC,” he said.
He said if accessed, the funds would be channeled into the development of education in the state, thereby encouraging enrollment in public schools across the state.
Adeniran said the board would also involve education stakeholders in addressing the menace of out-of-school children in the State.
Lamenting the increasing number of such children, he promised that the state government, through the board, will involve all stakeholders including traditional rulers, parents and educationists to ensure an aggressive enrollment of these children in public schools.
The Chairman promised that 2018 UBEC/SUBEB Projects would not be sited based on political considerations, but rather on the needs of each school.
“Governor Seyi Makinde is committed to education in the state, and he considers that Basic Education is pivotal to the development of the state. Therefore, politics will not be a yardstick in siting schools. Rather, we would consider each school’s needs,” Adeniran said.
Appealing to UBEC to support the State Government in order to replicate the Model Schools, he said: “Oyo State Government will stick to replicating model schools in the state. This, in turn, will promote education in the state, we believe.”
Speaking earlier, the Director Administration and Supply, UBEC, Rt. Rev. Edwin Jarumai, who represented the commission’s governing board, urged the government to do the needful in accessing it’s outstanding funds.
He further commended the state government’s concerted efforts at completing various UBEC/SUBEB Projects across the State.