Gbenro Adesina
The Oyo State Government has identified four 477 Islamic centres in the state for the first phase of Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) programme.
The State Government has also identified some nomadic centres, as well as centres for hawkers as part of the state government’s preparedness for the BESDA programme, which will kickstart very soon in the state.
BESDA is a World Bank-supported programme that was initiated to reduce the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.
The development objective of BESDA Operation Project for Nigeria is to increase equitable access for out-of-school children and improve literacy in focus states, and strengthen accountability for results, in basic education in Nigeria.
It is a national initiative focusing on 17 states, which include the entire 13 states of the North West and North East geographical zones as well as Niger, Oyo, Ebonyi and Rivers, where there is a high prevalence of out-of-school children.
Nigeria is stated to have 10 million out-of-school children, according to the country’s ministry of education.
The Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (OYSUBEB), Dr. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran said this on Monday August 9, 2021, while addressing coordinators of the centres at a meeting in Ibadan, the state capital.
He asserted that since the inception of the Better Education Service Delivery for All Program, Oyo State Government has successfully enrolled over 100,000 out of school children in Nigeria, stressing that the Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration was making concerted efforts to reduce the number of out of school children as more children have been joining the queue to have better education.
He said, “Enrolment is increasing in schools across the state because the government has provided a conducive atmosphere of learning and teaching to encourage children to attend schools and until the state government’s efforts at enrolling all out of school children is totally achieved, the Board he supervises will not rest on its oars. This ongoing effort is reflected in the selection of 477 Islamic Centeres as well as some nomadic centres across the state, to promote education and prepare fully for the implementation of the BESDA programme, which will soon start in Oyo State”.
According to him, only education offers children the opportunity to confront the illiteracy and brings about the desired institutional changes in the country.
He further said that for any country to develop, it must have a well-developed educational system that equips its people and prepares them with adequate knowledge.
Adeniran, therefore appealed to the coordinators of the centres to co-operate with Governor Makinde’s administration to ensure a literate society.
Speaking on behalf of other Coordinators, an Islamic centre coordinator, Alh. Abdul-Wahab Oluwakemi from Akinyele Local Government, thanked the Federal and Oyo State Governments for the kind gesture, promising their unalloyed support to the development of education in the State.
The meeting was attended by coordinators from 21 identified local governments, out of the 33 LGAs in Oyo State.
