Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has flagged off the distribution of motorcycles to School Support Officers (SSOs) and School Mobilisation Officers (SMOs) across the state.
The initiative also provides 72,000 notebooks to learners under the Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) Project across the state’s 33 local government areas.
The Governor, represented by his deputy, Bayo Lawal, said the intervention reflects the administration’s commitment to making education more accessible, inclusive, and effective.
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Makinde described the initiative as a practical investment in the people and structures that support children’s learning, noting that school support and mobilisation officers serve as a critical link between schools, families, and communities.
The Governor stated that the officers play a vital role in identifying out-of-school children, encouraging enrolment and retention, and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to learn.
Makinde said: “By providing motorcycles, we are helping these officers reach communities more promptly and carry out their responsibilities with greater efficiency.”
He explained that access to basic learning materials, such as the 72,000 notebooks, will support learners and reinforce the shared commitment to improving learning conditions.
The Governor stated that the initiative complements broader efforts by the state government and its partners to strengthen basic education and improve learning outcomes across Oyo State.
Makinde urged beneficiaries to use the motorcycles responsibly and strictly for official duties, stressing that they are public assets entrusted to them to serve communities.
The Governor called on school authorities, parents, community leaders, and other stakeholders to collaborate with the officers to ensure the benefits reach the children who need them most.
He encouraged pupils to make good use of the learning materials, attend school regularly, and remain committed to their studies, saying: “Your education is important to your future and to the continued progress of Oyo State.”
Governor Makinde commended the BESDA AF TESS Project team, development partners, and all stakeholders for their collaboration in advancing basic education in the state.
Earlier in his address of welcome, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education Intervention, Suraj Tiamiy, said the intervention would strengthen school community linkages, improve enrolment and attendance, and enable officers to identify and return out-of-school children, saying the notebooks would boost pupils’ classroom participation.
He disclosed that the BESDA AF TESS Project had also distributed 18,000 tablets to teachers to support teaching and professional development, and renovated 209 public primary schools across Oyo State, describing the initiative as a broad investment in teachers, schools, and communities.
Tiamiy encouraged parents, community leaders, and other education stakeholders to continue working with the officers to ensure that every enrolled child attends school regularly and receives the support needed to learn.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr. Olufemi Okesola appreciated the state government and pledged to use the intervention materials for effective monitoring and efficient delivery of extracurricular activities to pupils across the state.
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