Ogun lawmaker partners traditional rulers to tackle out-of-school children crisis

The Senator representing Ogun central in the National Assembly, Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, has rallied traditional rulers in Ogun state to initiate reforms in the education sector.

He then described the monarchs as a key stakeholders in the fight against the rising number of out-of-school children. 

The lawmaker, who stated that one of the most sustainable form of empowerment remains education, however warned that the region faces a serious future threats if the current trends are not checked.

“Our royal fathers are closer to the people than any institution of government,” he said. “Their influence, if properly harnessed, can drive the change we urgently need”, he added.

The workshop, themed “Improving Secondary School Enrollment through Community Engagement,” was organised in collaboration with the National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC) and Ampersand Development Partners.

Part of the communique issued at the end of the workshop, read by the Olowu of Own Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Oba Saka Matemilola, on behalf of the traditional council, called for the creation of community-based school monitoring teams, mentorship programmes, and the introduction of skill-based curricula tailored to current labour market needs.

“The time has come for our royal fathers to move beyond ceremonial functions and become active agents of change in the education space”, the communique reads

The communiqué also recommended incentives for teachers, youth unemployment interventions, improved access to educational funding, and stronger ties with Egba indigenes in the diaspora to bridge infrastructural gaps.

Meanwhile, the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, while declaring the workshop open, lauded Senator Salisu’s consistent support for community development.

“Before his election, he was already supporting our office. He listens to our needs and takes action. 

“Any Oba who fails to be a role model is not fit to be one. People must be able to look up to us for guidance and leadership”, he said.

In their lectures, Professor Olajumoke Familoni called for a national curriculum overhaul to emphasise vocational and technical education, just as Professor Bamidele Sogbesan urged more research-driven policies.

Key resolutions from the workshop however include the establishment of an Ogun Central Educational Summit, creation of Education Vanguards for school monitoring, and ongoing capacity-building programmes for monarchs in governance and conflict resolution.