*will ensure hitch-free NBS verification exercise
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
The Executive Chairman of Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran on Wednesday hinted that the state government is committed to eradicating Out-Of-School Children menace in the state.
Dr. Adeniran who stated this in Ibadan at the flag-off of a 5-day training of NBS Enumerators, said the state government is ready to ensure a hitch-free National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) verification exercise of all Better Education Service for All (BESDA) focused centres in the state.
The Oyo SUBEB Chairman stressed that the board in partnership with office of the Statistician General of the state, would ensure the enumerators have unhindered access to the 21 BESDA focus Local Government areas in the state and that this will assist the government in attaining its aim to eradicate Out-of-school children menace in the state.
” We assure the NBS management that the State Government, through the Board will accord the verification agents all the necessary support and information they may require”, he said.
According to Dr. Adeniran, Oyo State Government will ensure pupils in affected BESDA focus-schools stay back, despite the holidays, during the verification exercise, to ease the process.
“BESDA is a programme – for -result, funded by the World Bank to support increase in access to basic education by raising equitable access for Out-Of-School Children (OOSC), improve literacy and strengthen accountability for results in basic education in Nigeria. We are determined to make it work in Oyo State”.
The Oyo SUBEB Chairman said, the state ” is ready for NBS visitation in the selected schools across the state, to verify the authenticity of records kept by the implementing schools”, and that the Board will also provide data for the assessment of four Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs) on which the state would be rewarded”.
“We welcome the NBS team and its Enumerators. This particular exercise, which is the second Phase, would be conducted in the 21 BESDA focus LGAs in our State”
The South-West Zonal Controller, NBS, Mr. Bayo Okunuga in his remarks declared that the trained NBS verification agents, would be deployed across various local governments to collect data.
Mr Okunuga then appreciated Oyo state government for its commitment towards the success of BESDA and NBS’ verification in the State.
Also in attendance were the Statistician General of Oyo State, Mr. Adekunle Teslim Adejuwon; the Coordinating Director of OYOSUBEB, Mrs. Abosede Owoeye and other management team of the board.
