As part of efforts to strengthen education in Oyo State, the government, in partnership with the NGO OneLife Initiative and the Malala Fund, has intensified its efforts to address the challenge of out-of-school children.
A technical workshop on educational reforms was held in Ibadan, bringing together government officials, policymakers, civil society groups, private sector players, and education experts to design actionable strategies for inclusive and sustainable reforms.
The one-day event, part of the state’s Education Advancement Pre-Summit, featured keynote speeches, position papers, panel discussions, and breakout sessions focused on improving education sector planning, fostering partnerships, and promoting gender-inclusive policies.
In his opening remarks, Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, represented by House Education Committee Chairman, Hon. Oluwafowokanmi Oluwafemi, reaffirmed legislative backing for all policies and partnerships aimed at eliminating educational exclusion.
He stressed that education is a shared responsibility, urging collaboration among civil society actors, development partners, local communities, and parents to ensure every child’s right to learn and thrive.
While welcoming participants to the workshop, the Partnership Manager Nigeria, Malala Fund, Maryam Danburam, noted that the participants were gathered due to a shared commitment to strengthen education in Oyo State so as to secure a brighter future for the children, especially girls.
Similarly, the Executive Director of Onelife Initiative, Sola Fagorusi, explained that the workshop was put together because of the need for interagency, ministerial, and departmental collaborations, including the role of media and civil society organisations, calling for the best thoughts, ideas and initiatives from all stakeholders present.
The Senior Programme Officer, Advocacy and Policy Influencing Unit of Education as a Vaccine, an NGO, explained that the project is focused on transparency and accountability, and a gender responsive education system in Oyo State, aimed at seeing to the enrolment and retention of girls in school.
Goodwill messages from the representatives of the Oyo State Ministry of Education, State Universal Basic Education, Parent-Teacher Association, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and National Orientation Agency, among others, were delivered at the workshop.
Various stakeholders at the workshop identified several key issues contributing to the out-of-school challenge, including neglect of parental duty, inadequate government capacity, regional variations in education prioritisation, food security, and inclusive learning environments.
They also stressed the importance of collective action, avoiding polarisation, and promoting a common front for education reform.
The workshop proposed several recommendations, including strengthening legal enforcement of compulsory education laws, scaling community engagement, enhancing federal-state collaboration, and building capacity for parents and communities.
Others include implementing and expanding school feeding programs, promoting inclusive education policies, and encouraging multi-stakeholder collaboration
The Technical Workshop also recognised the efforts of position paper authors who contributed to shaping the reform agenda, with four authors specifically honoured during the event. The workshop serves as a pre-summit engagement to lay the foundation for broader education reforms in Oyo State.
