The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo State, Sharafadeen Alli has pledged to restore school governing boards, reduce classroom sizes to 30 pupils and provide free education from primary to junior secondary school, if elected as governor in 2027.
He said the measures were aimed at improving education standards across the state.
Alli made the pledges at a dialogue organised by the Oyo Leadership Initiative in Ibadan, themed: “Redefining Leadership and Governance in Oyo State”.
He said: “We will ensure that the atmosphere is teaching and learning-friendly. We will put in place good infrastructure. Payment of running grants would be returned to primary and secondary schools. We will ensure our schools are safe and have instructional materials.”
The APC governorship candidate also promised to strengthen the management of tertiary institutions by making their governing councils functional, while criticising the involvement of a consultant in running the institutions.
“It won’t be like the governing councils of our tertiary institutions in Oyo State, which are not functional. In our tertiary institutions, it is a consultant that is running them, and the consultant takes 10 per cent from what the students are paying. A consultant that probably does not know how to govern a school,” he said.
On teachers’ welfare, Alli pledged prompt payment of salaries and allowances, special incentives for teachers serving in remote areas and the establishment of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centres for secondary school students across the state’s three senatorial districts to improve learning.
He also promised to grant local governments autonomy and ensure accountability, arguing that their failure to function effectively had affected service delivery across the state.
He said: “Most of the problems we have emanate from the local governments not functioning. Local governments are supposed to run with the state on the economy, security, infrastructure and education, but that is not the case in Oyo.”
On healthcare, Alli promised free medical services for infants, babies, older people and pregnant women, as well as functional primary healthcare centres in each of the state’s 351 wards.
He said his administration would also conduct a census of residents to improve planning for education, healthcare and the economy.
In agriculture, the APC candidate pledged to revitalise the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA), introduce mechanised farming and improve access roads to farms to reduce transportation costs and the prices of agricultural produce.
On security, Alli said his administration would establish a neighbourhood watch system and deploy technology to strengthen surveillance, with solar farms and modular electricity grids providing electricity for security equipment.
Addressing concerns over the Ibadan Circular Road, he said the original plan was for a 150-metre corridor, comprising 75 metres on each side, and promised to review the expansion to 500 metres if elected governor.
The APC governorship candidate also pledged to respect traditional institutions and collaborate with traditional rulers on grassroots development.
Earlier, the convener of the Oyo Leadership Initiative (OLI), Abiola Ali, said the group was established in November 2025 to promote good leadership and governance in the state.
He said the initiative had 103 members and was open to professionals from different fields who wished to contribute to Oyo State’s development.
Ali described Alli as the most suitable among the governorship candidates, citing his integrity, experience and leadership qualities.
Those present at the event included the Oyo APC Chairman, Moses Adeyemo; the party’s Secretary, Fatai Adesina; the state APC Woman Leader, Dr Felicia Opatunde; and the Director-General of the Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO), Yemi Aderibigbe.
Others were the campaign organisation’s Director of Mobilisation, Sina Alabi; Director of Public Affairs, Bolaji Tunji; APC House of Representatives candidate for Ibadan North-West/South-West Federal Constituency, Folake Olunloyo-Osinowo; and the campaign organisation’s Deputy Director-General, Sola Ogunbode.
 governorship candidate in Oyo State, Sharafadeen Alli, has pledged to restore school governing...........){kind=link}