The Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has declared that his administration respects education as a non-negotiable right of every Ekiti child, promising to deploy every resource available to expand access to universal basic education in the state.
Oyebanji said this on Thursday, during official commissioning of a block of three classrooms and a borehole under the Sustainable Development Goals at Ilupeju Community Nursery and Primary school, Ikere Ekiti.
The Governor, represented by the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, said the facilities were conceptualised to guarantee quality education through conducive teaching and learning atmosphere for pupils and teachers.
Oyebanji noted his administration had invested hugely on education through policies that can shore up school enrolments and bolster the welfare of teachers to be able to deliver optimally.
“The projects we are commissioning today will play vital roles in fulfilling our shared interest and common goals in promoting Sustainable Development Goals in our community.
“Education serves a s a bedrock of knowledge , and with the completion of these classrooms we are instilling SDG-Goal 4, which stands for quality education in our community.
“Access to clean water and education are basic human rights, and through these facilities, we are addressing critical needs of mankind in our community”.
Speaking specifically about potable water provision, which stands for SDG goal 6, Oyebanji said access to this facility improve the health of the citizens, reduce morbidity and mortality rates as well as increased life expectancy of the populace .
“This facility is not only for the benefit of pupils and staff, but also for the neighbourhood. Let me therefore stress that it is the responsibility of the school community, PTA and Ilupeju Community residents to see to the maintenance and security of the project that will alleviate the challenge of acute water shortage in the environ”.
In his submission, the Special Adviser to the Governor and Director General, SDGs’ Office, Prince Adewole Ajakaye, stated that the projects form part of the ingenuous ways through which Governor Oyebanji intends to make learning more conducive in schools.
Ajakaye saluted Oyebanji for providing the facilities he believed will add panache to quality of academic delivery, appealing to the school management to strictly maintain the facilities .
The Education Secretary, Ikere Local Government, Mr. Femi Buraimo, revealed that public schools in the council have been recording good numerical strength in terms of school enrolments due to facilities and personnel being provided by government.
“Let me bring to your notice that due to the qualities of facilities and personnel available in public schools, children in private schools are being withdrawn to join public schools in Ikere Ekiti.
“As at the last count , primary schools in Ikere Local Government have increased from 40 to 63. More schools will still be established by government to accommodate more children, Governor Oyebanji gave us the assurance when he met with all Education Secretaries last week and asked about our problems, which was happening for the first time in history”.
Applauding the governor for the gesture, the traditional ruler of the community and Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu Alagbado , appreciated the Governor for prioritising education through operation renovate all schools and provision of clean water.
“What the governor has done is a challenge to all of us. Try and maintain all these facilities and see that quality education is being offered here to justify whatever the governor has done”.