Governor Seyi Makinde has continued his administration’s transformational intervention in Oyo State’s education sector by renovating 105 primary schools under the Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) and Global Partnership for Education (GPE) initiatives. The move is part of a broader effort to bridge the state’s infrastructural deficit, which was estimated at ₦60 billion in 2019. Since taking office, Makinde has allocated ₦3 billion yearly toward educational infrastructure, with education receiving the highest budgetary allocation in the 2024 budget and the second highest in 2025.

With funding from the World Bank’s GPE grant, Oyo State became one of three states selected to benefit from a $123.8 million support grant aimed at improving basic education standards. The 105 renovated schools are spread across the state’s three senatorial districts, focusing on rural areas, where children had previously studied in dilapidated and uninhabitable classrooms. The renovations included the construction of three-classroom blocks with ramps for physically challenged pupils, modern furniture, whiteboards, boreholes, solar power installations, and the provision of toilets for both male and female students. A total of 190 rural schools are expected to be renovated under the BESDA AF-TEES program.

Stakeholders have hailed the initiative as a significant step toward achieving 100% literacy in the state. According to Suraj Tiamiyu, the governor’s Special Adviser on Education Intervention, the project is being monitored for transparency through School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs), which ensure adherence to specifications. Residents, teachers, and parents have expressed joy and appreciation, with some noting that the new learning environment will improve both student attendance and teacher morale. A teacher from Oluyole Government Council Primary School stated that before the renovations, students had stopped attending classes due to the lack of furniture and poor conditions.

Governor Makinde’s administration has prioritized educational development, implementing initiatives such as the construction of model schools, installation of boreholes, perimeter fencing, and the recruitment of over 15,000 teachers. This investment aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on education and supports Makinde’s vision for an inclusive and qualitative educational system. The BESDA-GPE project, which also operates in Adamawa and Katsina states, is expected to conclude in October 2025, further solidifying the state’s commitment to educational transformation.