Makinde Returns 80,000 Out-of-school Children To Classrooms

Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, said his administration has ensured that 80,000 out-of-school children have returned following the abolition of the N1,000 per term levy introduced by the immediate past administration in the state.

The governor’s special adviser (Media), Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, who disclosed in a chat with newsmen in Ibadan, added that the present administration has so far renovated about 110 public primary and secondary schools.

Olanrewaju said Makinde had a deep passion for education and strongly believes that children from poor backgrounds should have the same access to quality education as those from wealthy homes.

According to him, this conviction informed the governor’s decision to abolish the N1,000 per term fees.

“Many people criticised him when he scrapped the N1,000 levy, which amounted to N3,000 annually.

“But can anyone imagine that such an amount was enough to keep over 80,000 pupils out of school? Had this step not been taken, many of these children might have ended up as miscreants, bandits or social misfits in the near future,”Olanrewaju queried.

He added that Makinde did not only return pupils to school but also ensured a conducive learning environment for both students and teachers through the renovation of 110 schools across the state.

Olanrewaju disclosed that the governor took bold steps to resolve the long-standing crisis at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), noting that peace and harmony have now returned, with students and lecturers coexisting without rancour.

On security, he said the Makinde administration had strengthened security operations by providing 200 utility vehicles to security agencies, in addition to two helicopters, to enable them respond swiftly to security challenges across the state.

Speaking on the economy, Olanrewaju noted that Oyo State’s internally generated revenue (IGR) had increased significantly in recent years, enabling the government to deliver more dividends of democracy to the people.

He also disclosed that the state continues to attract investors daily, adding that no fewer than 14 new companies have joined the Fasola Farm Settlement alone, among other investments across the state.