We paid N7.8bn UBEC counterpart funds in three years ― Fayemi

The Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has disclosed that his administration has paid a total sum of N7.8 billion to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) as counterpart funds to attract qualities projects to public schools in the state.

The governor who spoke while commissioning school projects in Isan-Ekiti in Ifesowapo local council development area and Ewu-Ekiti in Ilejemeje local government area said the government will continue to make public schools attractive to parents and pupils.

Represented by his deputy, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, the governor said the huge investment in the education sector by his administration in the last three years has resulted in very encouraging enrolment in public primary and secondary schools across the state.

The renovated blocks of classrooms were commissioned at L.A. Friendly Nursery/Primary School, Isan Ekiti and St. Boniface Primary School, Ewu Ekiti as part of activities to mark the Fayemi administration’s three years in office.

The Elewu of Ewu Ekiti, Oba Adetutu Ajayi, lauded the Fayemi administration for turning around the school in his domain with quality facilities and other projects executed and inaugurated to boost the standard of living in the grassroots.

The governor explained that enrolment in public primary schools which stood at 106, 271 in 2018 when he assumed office has increased to 241,982 in 2021 while that of public secondary schools jumped from 84, 146 in 2018 to 109, 140 in 2021.

He said: “Our administration in the last 36 months introduced a multiple-pronged approach to tackle the problems that directly or indirectly militate against the access of children to free, qualitative basic education in the state.

“These include the payment of matching grants totalling over N7.84 billion to UBEC which covers the period of the years 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

“Provision of instructional materials to schools, payment of running grants to all public primary and secondary schools in the state, ongoing massive rehabilitation of school infrastructure and construction of additional school buildings as well as the provision of conducive teaching and learning environment in schools,” the governor

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Professor Femi Akinwumi, expressed delight that the Fayemi administration had since assumption of office on October 16, 2018, demonstrated strong commitment towards finding a lasting solution to various problems plaguing the education sector.

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