In a historic event, the first of its kind in local administration in Oyo State, the Executive Chairman of Egbeda Local Government, Hon. Sanda Oyedele Sikiru, has distributed 70,000 free exercise books to pupils in 77 public primary schools under his administration’s “Back to School Initiative.”
Hon. Sanda said the gesture was aimed at easing parents’ financial burden while equipping pupils with the tools to excel academically. He noted that the council had earlier paid WAEC and JAMB fees for over 100 indigent students, funded compendiums for common entrance candidates, and is currently completing a six-block classroom at Community High School, Oshengere.
“This initiative is not a misplacement of priority; it means we are getting it right and doing the right thing at the right time,” he said, while thanking Governor Seyi Makinde for his support.
Chairman of the Oyo State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Akintunde Olajide, urged other council bosses to emulate the gesture, stressing that such interventions enhance learning outcomes.
Also, Oyo SUBEB Chairman, Dr. Nureni Adeniran, said seeing pupils happy at learning gives him great joy, and charged parents and stakeholders to complement government’s effort by ensuring the books are well used while also providing additional learning materials.
Similarly, Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, Hon. Akin Funmilayo Williams, commended Hon. Sanda’s “unprecedented milestone” and stressed that the best legacy any government can leave is investment in education, “because the children we train today will be our fallback in the future.”
The event, witnessed by parents, teachers, and political stakeholders, was described as a bold step in repositioning education at the grassroots and a legacy that will outlive the present administration.
