​Oyo,FG Distribute Books,Sandals to Boost Basic Education

​IBADAN – In a strategic move to enhance the quality of primary education and ease the financial burden on parents, the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (OYOSUBEB), in partnership with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), has commenced the distribution of thousands of instructional materials to public schools across the state.

​The 2024 FGN-UBEC/SUBEB Intervention Programme was officially flagged off on Friday at the OYOSUBEB headquarters in Agodi, Ibadan. The initiative includes the distribution of core textbooks, stationery, and personal school gear such as bags and sandals to pupils in primary and junior secondary schools.

​Investing in the Future

​Speaking at the ceremony, OYOSUBEB Chairman, Dr. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran, detailed the scale of the intervention. The state is distributing over 19,000 copies each of Mathematics textbooks for Primary 1–3, alongside more than 15,000 English textbooks for the same levels. The distribution also extends to nursery-level learners, with thousands of English and Mathematics books tailored for early childhood education.

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​Beyond textbooks, the board is providing 40,000 Continuous Assessment Cards and over 6,000 units each of school bags, exercise books, pencils, and sandals to support vulnerable students.

​”These materials are not for storage; they are for active classroom use,” Dr. Adeniran cautioned school heads. “Our success will be measured by improved academic performance and better learning outcomes, not by how well these books are preserved in cupboards.”

​National Alignment

​The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Aisha Garba—represented by the Zonal Director, Mrs. Beatrice Okei—emphasized that the exercise aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s national agenda to prioritize literacy and numeracy. She revealed that UBEC is currently distributing 15 million school bags and pairs of sandals nationwide to reduce the number of out-of-school children and encourage school retention among vulnerable families.

​Dr. Olukemi Adeosun, a member of the SUBEB Executive Board, noted that providing these resources significantly eases the burden on teachers, as students can now prepare for lessons ahead of time.

​Teachers’ Commendation

​The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Oyo State, Comrade Raji Oladimeji, lauded the state government for its consistent investment in teacher recruitment, welfare, and infrastructure. He urged both teachers and students to make “judicious use” of the newly provided materials to justify the government’s investment.

​The event marks a renewed collaboration between the Federal and State governments to ensure that every child in Oyo State, regardless of their economic background, has access to the fundamental tools required for academic success.