Ekiti State Governor, Mr Abiodun Oyebanji has flagged off the distribution of instructional materials and sports equipment worth several millions of Naira to public primary schools across the State with a pledge that his administration would continue to support initiatives and programmes that would have positive impact in basic education sector in the State.
Speaking at the ceremony in Ado Ekiti, Governor Oyebanji who was represented by the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Mrs Bimpe Aderiye, said that the availability of instructional materials is known to enhance teaching and learning outcomes in public schools while sports also plays a vital role in the physical and mental development of children.
According to him, daily physical exercise and sports are essential for pupils and students to help them stay healthy and also improve their emotional fitness, confidence, mental alertness and self esteem.
Governor Oyebanji described Human Capital Development with particular reference to Education as one of the major pillars of the developmental agenda of his administration, adding that Government would continue to ensure adequate budgetary provision for the education sector.
He assured that the State Government would continue to foster greater synergy with UBEC, Federal Ministry of Education as well as willing development partners and donor agencies in the quest to improve infrastructure in public schools in the State and making them globally comparative and competitive.
The Governor explained that his administration approved the payment of N1.2billion Naira marching grant to UBEC earlier in the year stating thatthye move had laid the foundation for the initiation of 300 new infrastructural projects in schools across the State under the UBEC/SUBEB 2022 intervention projects.
He charged SUBEB and Education Secretaries in the 16 LGA’s to ensure that the instructional materials and sports equipment distributed are judiciously and effectively utilized through proper and regular monitoring.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, Prof. Femi Akinwumi recalled that the Oyebanji led administration had since assumption of office in October 2023 taken some far reaching decisions which had improved teaching and learning environment in public schools in the State.
These include: payment of UBEC counterpart funds; recruitment of 1500 primary school teachers; payment of running grant to public primary and secondary schools; procurement of monitoring vehicles for the Education Secretaries; support for ICT training programme for teachers in the State and recent payment of some outstanding emolument to some teachers and public servants in the State.
According to Akinwumi, items procured under the UBEC/SUBEB Intervention Programme listed for distribution at the ceremony to include: ICT equipment, English, Mathematics and core subjects textbooks; 30 interactive boards; 30 electronic notebooks for teachers; 600 tablets and 16 computer sets while sporting equipment listed for distribution include: 58 pairs of soccer boots; 53 units of IAAF standard high jump crossbars, landing foams and poles; 31 units of ITF standard table tennis boards; 265 pairs of spike shoes; 204 units each of Chess, Scrabble and Opon Ayo with seeds.
In his goodwill message, the UBEC Executive Secretary, Dr. Hammid Bobboyi, represented by the State UBEC coordinator, Mr Tokunbo Olajubu said that that the commission would continue to collaborate with Ekiti SUBEB to uplift basic education in the State.
