The World Bank has given the Oyo State Government a ₦3.5 billion grant to renovate 105 public primary schools across the state. This funding aims to improve school facilities and provide better learning environments for students.
Governor Seyi Makinde, represented by Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal, announced the grant during a cheque presentation to representatives of some of the schools in Ibadan. The renovation work will start at the same time in all the selected schools in the state’s three senatorial districts.
Governor Makinde emphasized the need for quality work, urging those in charge to avoid doing poor jobs. He stressed that the significant investment should result in visible improvements that benefit the students and the community. “A lot of money is being invested in this project, and it is important that the beneficiaries oversee the work in their schools to ensure it meets the required standards. Our children should fully benefit from the facilities the government is providing,” Makinde said.
Suraj Tiamiyu, Special Adviser to the Governor on Education Intervention, explained that the renovation includes building toilets and drilling boreholes, among other improvements, to create a better learning environment for students. The renovation of the 105 schools, mostly in rural areas, is expected to be completed within six weeks. Tiamiyu assured that the work would be closely monitored to ensure it meets the standards and is finished on time.
The grant is part of the World Bank’s Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) – Additional Funding (AF) project. This project, supported by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), aims to increase access to education for out-of-school children and improve literacy rates. Oyo State, along with Adamawa and Katsina states, benefits from this grant, which seeks to improve basic education in Nigeria.
The Oyo State Government is committed to improving educational facilities, showing its dedication to enhancing the quality of education and providing better opportunities for all students in the state.
