By Adeola Badru

The Oyo State government has reiterated its commitment to enhancing girl-child education through strategic partnerships.

The state’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Salihu Abdulwaheed Adelabu, stated this yesterday, during the launch of the State of Girl-Child Education (SoGE) Report, held at the International Conference Centre of the University of Ibadan.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary/Inspector General of Education, Elder Delani Binuyo, the commissioner commended the initiator of the report, Onelife Initiative for its dedication to improving educational outcomes for girls.

In his address, Binuyo emphasised the necessity of collaboration among various stakeholders, including government agencies, educators, and community leaders, to create a supportive environment for girls.

“We must work together to create an enabling environment that allows our girls to achieve their full potential,” he stated.

Binuyo, noted that the SoGE Report called for a multifaceted approach to address the challenges facing girls in education, including enhancing educational infrastructure, providing access to healthcare, and implementing comprehensive sexuality education.

He also stressed the importance of guidance and counseling services to support female students throughout their educational journey, highlighting that these services are essential for ensuring that girls feel supported and empowered to continue their education.

“We must ensure that our girls have the necessary resources and support systems in place to navigate their academic experiences.”

The commissioner’s representative highlighted the government’s commitment to working with various stakeholders to implement the recommendations outlined in the SoGE Report.

He stated, “Oyo State has the potential to advance girl-child education, provided that we all commit to addressing the identified challenges.”

Calling for a concerted effort to embrace the recommendations, he said the state government aimed to pave the way for a brighter future where every girl has equitable access to quality education.

Binuyo stated that the state has the potential to advance girl-child education if stakeholders commit to addressing the identified challenges.

“By embracing the recommendations outlined in the report and collaborating effectively, it is possible to pave the way for a brighter future where every girl has equitable access to quality education,” he affirmed.

In his remark, the Executive Director of the non-governmental organisation, Onelife Initiative, Sola Fagorusi, announced the organisation’s strategic focus on transforming policies surrounding girl-child education in Oyo, Ekiti, and Akwa Ibom States.

He underscored the critical importance of girl-child education for national development, adding that: “Our primary goal is not just to provide education but to create an environment where young girls can thrive and contribute meaningfully to society.”

He highlighted alarming statistics from the 2022 WAEC examinations, revealing that only 11 out of 1,200 girls from Iseyin Local Government Area of Oyo State passed their exams, underscoring the urgent need for intervention in the educational landscape.

According to Fagorusi, the SoGE Report offers a comprehensive assessment of the state of girl-child education in Oyo, covering data from 2022 to early 2024.

“The report identifies key challenges and opportunities within the educational landscape for girls and proposes actionable recommendations for stakeholders.”

Fagorusi detailed that Onelife Initiative has been gathering data on the performance of secondary school students over the past two years, focusing on public secondary schools from JSS ONE to SSS THREE, where foundational changes can have the most impact.

“The report utilized data from the Oyo State Annual School Census Report (2021) and employed a mixed-methods approach for data collection,” he explained, noting that 34 schools across Oyo State participated in the study, with questionnaires administered to 1,280 girls.

“Qualitative analysis revealed a critical need for interventions in specific local government areas, particularly Iseyin, Ibarapa North, and Lagelu. In Iseyin, a staggering pass rate of only 0.87% was recorded for girls who sat for the WAEC exams, highlighting systemic issues that require immediate attention,” he stated.

Also present at the event was the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs. Toyin Balogun, represented by the Director of Child Welfare, Mr. Gbemileke Ojerinde.

He assured participants of the government’s unwavering commitment to implementing policies and programs that will empower the girl-child to thrive academically and socially through initiatives such as scholarships, school feeding programs, and advocacy for gender-sensitive curricula.