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Oyo Leads South West with 360,000 Out-of-School Children Amidst ₦11.1bn Unaccessed UBEC Grants
By Kabir Abdulsalam
A staggering number of 360,000of out-of-school children Oyo State of the South West region of Nigeria are grappling, topping the list of the region.
This disturbing trend is compounded by the fact that the region has a total of ₦11.1 billion in unaccessed UBEC grants for basic education in 2023.
According to a recent report from Statisense, citing data from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) 2023 and the National Multi-Dimensional Poverty Index (NMPI) 2022, shows this alarming number of out-of-school children in the State represents a significant challenge to the state’s education sector.
According to the report, Oyo State has approximately 360,000 children between the ages of 6-15 who are not enrolled in school.
This number represents about 12% of the total number of out-of-school children in the South West region.
Ogun State follows closely with 280,000 out-of-school children, while Lagos State has 200,000.
Other states in the region also have significant numbers of out-of-school children, including Ondo State with 160,000, Osun State with 150,000, and Ekiti State with 40,000.
The report highlights the urgent need for state governments in the region to address the issue of out-of-school children.
It also emphasizes the importance of accessing and utilizing the available UBEC grants to support basic education in the region.
In terms of unaccessed UBEC grants, Ogun State has the highest amount of ₦4.26 billion, followed by Oyo State with ₦2.60 billion. Ekiti, Lagos, and Osun states have ₦1.40 billion each, while Ondo State has no unaccessed grants.
The UBEC grants are designed to support basic education in Nigeria, with a focus on improving access, quality, and infrastructure.
The grants can be used for a range of purposes, including the construction of new classrooms, the provision of educational materials, and the training of teachers.
The failure of some states to access and utilize these grants has been attributed to a range of factors, including bureaucratic delays, lack of capacity, and inadequate planning.
The report’s findings have significant implications for education policy and practice in the South West region.
It highlights the need for state governments to prioritize education and to take urgent action to address the issue of out-of-school children.
In addition, the report emphasizes the importance of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the UBEC grant system, to ensure that states are able to access and utilize the available funds.
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