Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has announced plans for a comprehensive overhaul of the state’s education infrastructure in 2025, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to prioritizing the sector.
Speaking during a live media chat on the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), broadcast across multiple radio stations, Makinde detailed ongoing efforts and future strategies to improve education and other critical sectors.
“We are trying to rearrange our resources to do more for the education sector. It is not for fun that since I came in, we have exceeded the UNESCO-recommended figure,” he stated.
Reflecting on the tragic stampede in Ibadan that claimed the lives of 35 children earlier in the week, Governor Makinde called for a minute of silence. Describing the incident as a “monumental tragedy,” he noted, “The incident and the Bodija explosion earlier this year were totally avoidable if the right things had been done by everyone involved.”
On the education front, Makinde acknowledged the significant financial requirements for sectoral reform, stating, “We would need close to N60 billion to address the needs of our education sector. While we have been expending a lot on education, more still needs to be done.”
The governor also highlighted achievements in budget performance, with significant improvements from 48% in 2019 to over 70% in recent years. “This stability is why we’ve been able to execute projects and improve people’s liveability in Oyo State,” he said.
Breaking the Poverty Cycle
Makinde emphasized his administration’s focus on economic expansion to break the cycle of poverty in the state. He pointed to initiatives like housing estates and the Senator Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road project as transformative efforts.
“How do we break out of the cycle of poverty? This is their government, and we will continue to do things in the best interest of the people,” Makinde said. Addressing accusations of land grabbing, he retorted, “It is even the land grabbers that are calling me a land grabber. The Circular Road will be the very first motorway in Nigeria, and how we want to develop the area requires a corridor.”
On the Federal Tax Reform Bill
Governor Makinde clarified his stance on the controversial Federal Government Tax Reform Bill, emphasizing the need for wider consultations. “It was an agreement reached unanimously at the NEC meeting; withdraw this bill from the National Assembly, let us have wider consultations. People should focus on the message rather than the messenger,” he said.
With his administration approaching its sixth year, Makinde reiterated his vision of sustainable development, promising that his policies and projects would leave a lasting impact on Oyo State.
