The government added that the projects include construction of five Model schools, six ECD Pilot centers, 32 blocks of 3-classroom buildings and 15 blocks of 4-classrooms.

Similarly, the contractors are also bidding for renovation of 59 blocks of classrooms, sinking and erection of 40 units of borehole tanks and stands, while others are, procurement of 36 classroom furniture, sports equipment, 16 motorcycles and one hilux.

The Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, (SUBEB), Dr. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran who made the disclosure in a statement also added that about 87 local contractors participated in the bid opening exercise for the 2018 FGN-UBEC/OYOSUBEB intervention projects held at Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board’s premises.

According to the statement, “we allowed due process in this bid opening, which states that people should be allowed to tender for any goods and/or services, and the tender should be open in the presence of the tenderers”, he said.

Adeniran further explained that the projects are being jointly financed by Oyo State Government through the State Universal Basic Education Board and the Federal Government, through the Universal Basic Education Commission.

While the Board is in the process of accessing 2019 FGN-UBEC/OYOSUBEB Intervention funds, he informed that the State Government has approved the release of its counterpart fund.

The SUBEB boss, however charged eligible tenderer to deliver a thorough job and ensure speedy completion of the 2018 intervention projects.

“Bidders are strongly advised to ensure speedy project execution, as this administration has zero tolerance for time wastage, as far as project execution is concerned”.

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The EFCC in a statement disclosed that the LG Chairmen were released after volunteering statements to the Commission.

Also, the Commission through its  Head, Media & Publicity,  Wilson Uwujaren clarified that the invited men were not detained, contrary to reports.

“They were invited over allegations that border on misappropriation of part of the N4bn loan obtained from Sterling Bank for the payment of arrears of salaries and pension of local government employees and teachers through the State Universal Education Board, SUBEB. They also allegedly diverted 10 percent of state internally generated revenue.”

“The Chairmen, after a meeting, decided that N100,000,000.00 (one hundred million Naira) be shared among themselves from the loan.

“All the council chairmen were released after questioning on Friday, November 1, 2019, contrary to reports in mainstream and social media, that they were detained by the Commission. “

EFCC, however stated that investigations are still ongoing.

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Governor Makinde made this call during a policy dialogue workshop on implementation of BESDA held at Emeritus Professor Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall in Ibadan, the state capital yesterday.

Speaking on his behalf, the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology,  Prof Kehinde Sangodoyin informed that  the initiative would increase access to better education in the State, disclosing further that about Two hundred and seventy-two thousand, eight hundred and forty-seven out-of-school children would be beneficiaries.

Sangodoyin also hinted that the initiative intended to include every child in the free education policy of the State, “leaving no child behind and consequently making every child count”.

According to him, the state government’s free education policy has yielded an increase in the return of children to public schools across the State.

“Recently, the State Government has announced free and compulsory qualitative education at Basic and Secondary Education levels in the State. The resultant effects of which is an increase in enrollment in our public schools throughout the State,” he said.

The Commissioner ascertained that the State government had adopted proactive measures to enhance collaboration with relevant stakeholders in the education sector, to address the effects of out-of-school-children in the State.

While appreciating World Bank and Universal Basic Education Commission for their financial and technical supports, Prof. Sangodoyin added that “Oyo State, as one of the beneficiaries would ensure judicial use of funds to improve literacy and strengthen accountability for result.”

Also speaking at the event, the Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Nureni Adeniran affirmed that the main objective of the programme was to eradicate child abuse and other vices in the society.

“BESDA programme will help in eliminating child abuse and child labour, improve health and hygiene, promote self reliance, increase economic growth and enhance social strength of the nation while eliminating the incidence of out-of-school-children”, he opined.

He urged parents and guardians to ensure the literacy of their wards and tasked teachers to be dedicated to their duties to revive the education sector.

Facilitators at the Workshop, Professor Rashid Adewumi Aderinoye and a former Chairman of the Board, Dr. Suleiman Adediran called on all stakeholders, including Government and its various agencies, School Based Management Committees, School Governing Boards to monitor and evaluate Basic education system for better students’ performance in the State.

Other Speakers at the event which heralded the commencement of BESDA activities in the State included, the Zonal Director, Universal Basic Education Commission, Mrs. Roseline Medubi, who called on all stakeholders, particularly parents to join hands with Government in the elimination of Out-of-School children in the State.

Representative of Traditional rulers in the State, the Eleruwa of Eruwa, H.R.M, Oba Samuel Adegboola, called for strict implementation of the law which prohibits child labour for effective implementation of the programme.

World Bank had granted a 611-million-dollar facility for the BESDA programme, designed to support Federal Government’s Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and to facilitate the implementation of the 2016/2019 Ministerial Strategic Plan (MSP) on Out-of-School Children (OOSC).

The programme was being implemented in 17 States, including 13 selected states of the northwest and northeast, as well as Niger, Ebonyi and Rivers states, while Oyo was the only beneficiary in the South West region.

The selection of the participating states was based on the prevalence of the number of out-of-school children, estimated at about 13.2 million in the country

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In the primary school quiz category, sub-divided into oral and written tests, Oyo State representatives, Miss Busura Busari, Master Fawaz Ibrahim, Master Toluwani Adeeko and Miss Bayaky Nadia, grossed a total of 129 points to emerge winners, beating Ondo State who clinched the second position with 113 points.

The pupils, chosen from Community Primary School, Ijokodo, Polytechnic Staff Primary school and Rhema Chapel Int’l schools, Ibadan respectively were subsequently rewarded with a trophy and N50,000 cash prize.

The representatives of the State attested to how they studied hard before the competition to emerge overall winner, amongst other students.
Commending them on behalf of the State Government, the Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Nureni Adeniran affirmed the present administration’s commitment and support to developing Education in the State, promising that at the next competition, the State would clinch first in all categories.

“The contest will encourage our pupils to develop keen interest and acquire skills in not just quizzes, but also the field of technology,” he said.

Overwhelmed by the performance of the pupils, he charged the winners to see their exploits as an opportunity for better positions in the next competition, adding that the State Government would provide every necessary facility that will launch them into advanced heights.
He also urged other pupils to be focused and never be distracted in their aspiration.

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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.

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In a statement, the Chairman, Oyo SUBEB, Dr. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran described the said recruitment exercise as false and misleading, warning members of the public to be wary of frauds.

“Oyo State Government’s attention has been drawn to activities of syndicates extorting money from unsuspecting members of the public under the guise of recruitment in the teaching services of the State. Please disregard such information, as it is false and misleading”, he said.

He further revealed that while efforts are ongoing to track and apprehend these fraudsters, “the general public should note that Oyo SUBEB has not begun any form of recruitment exercise”.

Dr. Adeniran therefore pleaded with members of the public not to fall victim of such antics, under the guise of recruitment.

According to Dr. Adeniran, “it is pertinent we state that Oyo SUBEB or the State Government is currently not recruiting. Therefore, the information is targeted at deceiving unsuspecting members of the public”.

The Chairman warned job seekers to be vigilant and ensure they do not fall prey of perpetrators of such evil antics.

Speaking further, he said “we would be transparent in our operations and make any recruitment exercise known to the public, through legitimate means”.
“Oyo State Government will announce this, when the time comes”

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The state’s Chairman, Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Nureni Adeniran, accompanied by other top management staff of the board, said this during his visit to schools within Omi-Adio axis, Ido Local Government.

Dr. Adeniran gave the warning to public schools in the State not to extort money from any pupil under any guise, stressing that Government will not hesitate to punish any teacher found sabotaging Government’s efforts.

He further explained that, the exercise became necessary following findings that Heads of some public primary schools were forcing students to pay levies in Ido Local Government, stressing that Government’s directives must be strictly adhered to.

“It is very sad to note that these Head Masters and their teachers are recalcitrant to our policy to ensure that basic education is free” the Chairman said.

“We are not witch-hunting anybody, rather what we are doing is to cleanse the system and henceforth, the full consequence of such act will be felt by the individuals concerned. ”

Speaking further at Hope Center Primary School, Omi Adio, one of the suspected schools, Dr. Adeniran wondered why teachers would disobey Government’s directives, at the detriment of the future of their pupils.

“A situation whereby children are locked out by teachers because they did not pay fees that Government has suspended would not be condoned or tolerated by this administration,” the Chairman emphasised.

In another development, Dr. Adeniran has decried the slow pace of ongoing FGN-UBEC/SUBEB Projects at Ogbomosho zone.

The Chairman said this while inspecting projects at Ogo-Oluwa, Ogbomosho North, Ogbomosho South and Oriire LGAs, promising that the Board will ensure speedy completion of the projects.

Reprimanding the contractors, Adeniran said, “I am not happy with the situation of projects in Ogbomosho zone. The Government of Oyo State will ensure these projects are completed, so we expect these contractors to come to our office and give us reasons why these projects have been abandoned.”

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Speaking with Executives of the Oyo State wing of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and Association of Primary School Headteachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON) during the weekend, the Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Nureni Adeniran asserted that it is no more business as usual, as Government is determined to restore the lost glory of the sector in the State.

He assured them that government would, as a matter of urgency, look into the return of running grants to all public schools. This, he said, will forestall illegal collection of fees from pupils.

“The government knows that NUT and AOPSHON are critical stakeholders, and we will religiously follow our promises, but we must warn that we will not tolerate any saboteurs in our determined efforts”

“Government will look into the return of your running grants, because we know that stopping these grants did not do our schools any good”, he added.

Also speaking with Local Government Education Boards’ Financial Officers and Auditors, the Chairman said Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration has zero tolerance for vices that could disrupt its efforts.

Dr. Adeniran also revealed that the State government would soon appoint Education Secretaries across the State, so as to bridge the gap in the sector.

He gave the assurance that each Education Secretary would merit his/her appointment, as the aim of the appointments is to put the round pegs in the round holes and to elevate the standard of education in the State.

“In order to bridge the gap, all local governments will soon have competent and deserving education secretaries, who would be the link between the board and their LGs”, he concluded.

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The Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Nureni Adeniran, made the pronouncement on Monday while inspecting school construction projects across Ibadan, the State capital.

Dr. Adeniran opined that pupils in primary sector, must be given necessary supports and morales that would endear them to their studies, one of which is having a good roof over their heads while studying.

He promised an immediate offset of backlog of arrears owed the contractor by the previous government, noting that the decongestion of the little space on the school premises is key.

The Chairman expressed his dissatisfaction at the slow pace at which the project was executed, while expressing optimism that there would be a quick return to normalcy and prompt completion of the project before the incumbent administration’s 100 days in office.

“There is a significant cost here. In this case, it is very important to complete this project in earnest, considering the unconducive environment in which these children are learning. The contractor must come back to work immediately, and we assure him that the debts owed by the previous government will be paid.

“The pupils are at the receiving end of this and as parents and government that care for its citizens, all efforts must be put into correcting every anomaly that might have affected the education system over the years.

“We are using this medium to announce to the public that all ongoing and abandoned contracts in our public schools will be concluded soon.

In another development, the Chairman has also declared immediate distribution of instructional materials to schools across the 33 Local Governments of the State without further delay.

“As a government, it is standard practice for us to fulfil our campaign promises, one of which is delivering free and qualitative education and we will not stop until we ensure this is done”, he said.

The instructional materials include science kits, maths sets, charts and other necessary education materials for Junior secondary schools.

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