NBS commences verification of Better Education Project in Oyo state

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has begun a verification of all Better Education Service for All (BESDA) centers in Oyo State, south west Nigeria.

Speaking at the flag-off of a 5-day training organised for the NBS enumerators in Ibadan, on Wednesday, the Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr Nureni Adeniran, said the Board would collaborate with NBS to ensure a hitch-free exercise in the state.

Adeniran noted that his office, in partnership with the office of the Statistician General of the state, would ensure the enumerators have unhindered access to the 21 BESDA centers across the Local Government Areas in the state.

He disclosed that the support would assist the government in attaining its aim to eradicate the problem of Out-Of-School Children in the state.

He stated: “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.”

The SUBEB Chairman said the state government would 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,” he promised.

Adeniran noted that the state was ready for the NBS visitation in the selected schools across the state to verify the authenticity of records kept by the implementing schools.

The Board would also provide data for the assessment of four Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs) on which the state would be rewarded.

Speaking earlier, the Southwest Zonal Controller, NBS, Mr Bayo Okunuga, hinted that the trained enumerators, who are also referred to as NBS verification agents, would be deployed across various Local Government Areas to collect data.

He thanked the Oyo State Government for its commitment to the success of BESDA and NBS verification in the State.

In attendance were the Statistician General of Oyo State, Mr Adekunle Teslim Adejuwon; the Coordinating Director of OYOSUBEB, Mrs Abosede Owoeye and other members of the management team of the Board.

Hauwa Abu