Governor Seyi Makinde has revealed that more than 65,000 out-of-school children have been re-enrolled in public schools across Oyo State, describing the development as a major milestone in the state’s education drive.
Makinde disclosed this while receiving a delegation from the Better Education Service Delivery for Additional Financing (BESDA-AF) implementation support mission of the World Bank and the Universal Basic Education Commission at the Executive Council Chamber, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
He said Oyo State had benefited significantly from the BESDA-AF intervention, noting that the programme had strengthened structures within the basic education system and improved access for previously excluded children.
The governor appreciated the World Bank and UBEC for their financial and technical backing, assuring the delegation that his administration would commit the necessary resources to ensure the state maximises opportunities in the new funding cycle.
Makinde encouraged the team to provide honest feedback after their field visits, stressing that constructive recommendations would be welcomed to deepen reforms and address any identified gaps in implementation.
Earlier, UBEC’s National Programme Coordinator, Mayowa Aleshin, explained that the mission was in the state to assess the progress of the BESDA-AF project, examine challenges, and make further recommendations to enhance delivery.
The World Bank team lead, Shinsaku Nomura, commended the governor’s education reforms and efforts to expand access to quality learning, as top government officials attended the meeting.
