Oyo state government on Monday expressed its readiness to put into use the BESDA take-off grant towards educating about 170, 536 out-of-school children in 23 Local Government Areas and ensure their retention in schools.

The Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Nureni Adeniran disclosed this after a two-day interactive session held in Ibadan, the state capital on implementation of World Bank assisted Better Education Service Delivery For All (BESDA).

He also  reiterated the state government’s resolve to effectively take off the street all out-of-school children and put them in public schools, adding that  the programme would cater for hawkers and Almajiris in Oyo State.

“Despite all the hiccups, I strongly believe that the essence of BESDA, which is to effectively take all the out-of-school children off the streets and draw them back to schools, will be accomplished in Oyo State”, the SUBEB boss expressed optimism.

Expressing displeasure on the outrageous number of out-of-school children in the state, Dr. Adeniran further assured  that the state government would ensure that a total of 62, 733 hawkers were taken back to school, while 107, 803 Almajiris would be taken off the streets in the Oke-Ogun region of the state.

He revealed that the Board had embarked on strategies that would ensure all out-of-school-children are returned to schools before year-2022.

“Oyo state as one of the participating states, would ensure that all out-of-school-children are brought back to schools within the years of the programme implementation in the country as a whole”.

The Chairman also promised that the Seyi Makinde  led government would pay undivided attention to reduction in the number of out-of-school children, improve their literacy level and strengthen the education system.

Earlier his remarks, the Head, Coordination Support Team, BESDA, Mallam Iro Umar , alsonexpressed optimism that Oyo State has a good team to implement BESDA project.

He  noted that the state, through Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, has met necessary parameters and has what it takes to drive the programme to a fruitful end.

Oyo State Government would receive an initial BESDA grant of $3Million, to kick off the programme in Ona-ara, Kajola, Surulere, Saki West, Akinyele, Olorunsogo, Iseyin, Saki East, Oyo West, Ogbomosho South, Ogbomosho North & Iwajowa.

Other Local Government Areas are, Ogo-Oluwa, Ibadan South East, Oriire, Oluyole, Afijio, Oyo West, Ibadan South East, Egbeda, Oreloope, Ibarapa Central and Ibadan North East.

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Oyo State has congratulated Prof. Daud Sangodoyin on his inauguration as the State Commissioner for Education  by Governor Seyi Makinde.

The congratulatory message was issued on Saturday in Ibadan, the state capital by its Chairman, Comrade Asubiojo, Olujuwon (Marshal).

The message  reads, “We have no doubt that with his rich educational background, qualification, vast experience and proven leadership acumen, Prof. Sangodoyin  will effectively handle the education ministry to reflect the educational yearnings and aspirations of this administration as said by His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde and the National Policy on Education.

“We strongly desire that he hit the ground running by attending speedily to issues impeding the growth of education in the Pace setter state”.

“As NANS, Oyo state look forward to working closely with the ministry to further strengthen the education sector. We seize this medium to thank His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde for approving bursary for Oyo Law School students and appeal that this kind gesture be extended to other students in the state”, the message continued.

The Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board,(SUBEB), Dr. Nureni Adeniran, has assured that the implementation of the World Bank supported “Better Education Service Delivery for All” (BESDA) scheme will see 272,847 out of school children in the state get a free education.

The SUBEB boss gave this assurance at the Opening ceremony of the interactive session with stakeholders on implementation of BESDA Scheme held at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan, the state capital on Friday.

Adeniran, also promised that the state would work in line with the standard blueprint in executing the programme, assuring that by next session there would be a reduction in out of school children in Oyo State.

He  noted that as contained in a sample by the Nigerian Education Data Survey (NEDS) 2015, Oyo State has been observed to have the total of 272,847 Out of School Children marooning the street and constituting nuisance in the state.

The five-year  “Better Education Service Delivery for All” (BESDA) scheme is a short term initiative set to run between 2017 – 2022 and saddled with the responsibility of improving literacy level and increasing equitable access to Out of School children to go back to school.

According to the SUBEB Chair, Oyo state was  the only Southwest state benefitting from the five-year BESDA programme.

“Oyo state is well prepared and you can see the huge turnout of our various stakeholders.

“There is a technical work plan that will be used and we’ll create awareness on the importance of schooling in deriving adequate security and a crime free state.”

He further lauded  Governor  Seyi Makinde for his support towards improving education in the Pacesetter state.

Also speaking at the event, the National Coordinator of BESDA scheme, Prof. Gidado Tahir  noted  that Oyo state has the best infrastructure and commitment in deriving the goal of the Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA).

Professor Tahiru explained that the programme was aimed at drastically reducing the rate of out of school children across the country while noting that Oyo State was among seventeen states that had benefitted from the programme.

“This is a programme that is designed specifically for all children who are not in school for the purpose that they are given education, particularly literacy.

“Let us see that we clear the less than 300,000 children on the streets before the mid-term. Let’s commit ourselves to see that this is done”, he added.

Also,  the state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Daud Sangodoyin declared that  education is a compulsory right of every Nigerian irrespective of gender, social status, religion, ethnic background and peculiar individual challenges.

The commissioner, who was represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics of the Ministry, Mrs. Aminat Atere lauded  the World Bank assisted programme, stressing that the state government is committed to providing quality education to all its citizenry.