In a monumental stride towards educational development, the Ekiti State Government, in collaboration with the World Bank-assisted Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) programme under the Ministry of Education, is currently renovating and rehabilitating 203 public secondary schools across the state.
The comprehensive tour of project sites across the three Senatorial Districts was conducted by the State Project Coordinator of AGILE, Mrs. Yewande Adesua, alongside the Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun. This initiative reflects Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s unwavering commitment to providing a conducive learning environment, aligning with the Human Capital Development agenda and the vision of shared prosperity.
Adesua emphasized the multifaceted impact of the ongoing AGILE projects, focusing on improving secondary education opportunities for adolescent girls aged between 10 and 20. The comprehensive approach addresses barriers to attendance and completion of secondary school, aiming to keep girls in school while equipping them with critical life skills, including digital literacy.
The projects encompass the renovation and upgrading of classrooms, laboratories, libraries, ICT rooms, perimeter fencing, procurement of school furniture, and the construction of toilets and sanitation facilities. Adesua highlighted the positive effects on the teaching and learning environment, school enrolment, and security in the benefiting schools.
To ensure transparency and accountability, Adesua revealed the establishment of 17-member School-Based Management Committees (SBMC) in each benefiting school. These committees, comprising representatives of traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community stakeholders, oversee project execution in line with the administration’s policy of value for money.
Principals from Corpus Christi College, Ilawe Ekiti; United Secondary School, Ilawe Ekiti; and Ado Community Grammar School praised Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s developmental policies, citing substantial improvements in teaching and learning environments and significant increases in student enrollment attributed to the AGILE initiative. The collaborative efforts of AGILE and the Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun, underscore the state’s commitment to holistic educational transformation.
