The Oyo State government has issued a directive to reopen 23 schools that were closed for a decade due to an unresolved boundary dispute.
The Deputy Governor, Barrister Bayo Lawal, spearheaded the resolution during a crucial stakeholders’ meeting held at the Western Hall, Secretariat, Ibadan.
Lawal, who also chairs the state boundary committee, addressed the age-long land dispute affecting schools in Atiba, Afijio, Oyo East, and Oyo West local government areas.
He emphasized the imperative of restoring normalcy and ensuring the education of the affected children.
During the meeting, Lawal urged the local government chairmen to prioritize security and peace in their domains.
A stern warning was issued, holding the chairmen responsible for any security breaches in the aftermath of the school reopenings.
The ministry of education will oversee the reopened schools, with a commitment to taking necessary measures to facilitate the return of students.
Lawal appealed to members of the Oyo State House of Assembly representing the affected constituencies to collaborate with community leaders in ensuring a smooth transition for the children back to school.
He acknowledged the Oyo Global Forum’s support and commended their interest in the progress of the affected schools.
The deputy governor assured stakeholders that the office of the surveyor general would intervene to address the boundary dispute among communities.
Lawal appealed to community leaders to adhere to the state government’s decision on reopening the schools, emphasizing the importance of considering the future of the affected children.
The list of affected schools includes Community Basic School Obananko, Pinnock Memorial Baptist School Aba Epo Oluwatedo, St. Luke Anglican Bada Idiyalode, and others in Oyo West LG.
Schools in Oyo East LG, such as Methodist Primary School Ajagba, ADS Primary School Baba Elesin, and L.A. Basic School Imeleke, are also part of the reopening initiative.
The stakeholders’ meeting was attended by key figures, including the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Salihu Adelabu, and the Executive Chairman of Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran, along with local government chairmen and traditional leaders.
The decision marks a significant step towards resolving a decade-long educational impasse and fostering a brighter future for the affected children in Oyo State.
We must commend our good governor for doing the needful. GLODET MISSIONS awareness campaigns and intervention work by Revd Dr Kolade Oladele brought these issues to the fore in recent times before OGF came in to engage the government. The story of reopening of these schools will not be complete without the mention of Revd Dr Kolade Oladele and his GLODET team. We thank God for all those who participated . The innocent children are the ones who won