Oyo State Governor, Engr. ‘Seyi Makinde, has flagged off the distribution of motorcycles to School Support Officers (SSOs) and School Mobilisation Officers (SMOs), as well as 72,000 notebooks to learners under the Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) AF TESS Project across the 33 local government areas of the state.
In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the governor, represented by his Deputy, Barr. Bayo Lawal, said the intervention demonstrated his administration’s commitment to making education more accessible, inclusive and effective. He stated this at the flag-off ceremony held on Monday at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan.
Makinde explained that the motorcycles would enable School Support and Mobilisation Officers to reach communities more efficiently, particularly in identifying out-of-school children, encouraging enrolment and retention, and strengthening the link between schools, families and communities.
He said the distribution of 72,000 notebooks would also improve learners’ access to basic educational materials, noting that such support would enhance pupils’ participation in lessons and enable them to complete their schoolwork more effectively.
The governor urged beneficiaries to use the motorcycles responsibly and strictly for official duties, stressing that the vehicles are public assets entrusted to them to serve communities. He also called on school authorities, parents, community leaders and other stakeholders to collaborate with the officers to ensure that the interventions reach children who need them most.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education Intervention, Oloye Suraj Abiola Tiamiy, said the initiative would strengthen school-community linkages, improve enrolment and attendance, and support efforts to identify and return out-of-school children to the classroom.
Tiamiy disclosed that the BESDA AF TESS Project had also distributed 18,000 tablets to teachers to support teaching and professional development, while 209 public primary schools had been renovated across Oyo State. He commended the state government, Ministry of Education, SUBEB, TESCOM, BESDA AF TESS team and development partners for their collaboration.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr. Olufemi Okesola appreciated the state government for the intervention and pledged that the materials would be used responsibly to enhance monitoring and the effective delivery of extracurricular activities to pupils across the state. The event was attended by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Segun Olayiwola; Chairperson of the Oyo State Teaching Service Commission, Mrs. Olubukola Oladipo; Executive Assistant to the Governor on BESDA, Hon. Olatoye Olajide Olusina, among other stakeholders.
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