By Timile Duro
The Ondo State Government has concluded a statewide sensitisation programme for key actors and stakeholders on the implementation of the HOPE-EDU Programme across the three senatorial districts, as part of efforts to strengthen education delivery and improve data management in schools.
The programme brought together education administrators, school proprietors, teachers, development partners and other stakeholders to deepen awareness and ensure the effective implementation of the initiative aimed at improving the standard of education in the state.
Participants were sensitised on the objectives, operational framework and long-term benefits of the programme, particularly its role in building a reliable educational database for effective planning and policy formulation.
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Speaking during the exercise, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Igbekele Ajibefun, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Akindele Ige, described the sensitisation programme as a critical step toward achieving a comprehensive and dependable educational database in Nigeria.
He stressed that accurate data collection remains essential for planning, monitoring and implementing policies in the education sector, noting that participation in the HOPE-EDU Programme has become compulsory for all public and private schools across Ondo State.
According to him, the initiative is designed to ensure that every learner is properly captured and documented, creating an authentic database capable of supporting educational development and guiding the equitable allocation of resources.
Professor Ajibefun explained that the HOPE-EDU Programme is a Federal Government-backed initiative introduced to strengthen the education system through transparency, accountability and efficient management of learners’ records.
He added that proper data management would enable government to identify areas of need and effectively address challenges confronting schools and learners across the state.
The commissioner therefore urged school administrators and other stakeholders to cooperate fully with officials handling the implementation process to guarantee the programme’s success.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board, Princess Abike Bayo-Ilawole, described the sensitisation exercise as timely and beneficial to the education sector.
She said the initiative would assist government in planning adequately for the future of learners while ensuring that no child is denied access to quality basic education.
Bayo-Ilawole encouraged stakeholders to regard the programme as a collective responsibility aimed at advancing education and commended school proprietors, teachers and education officers for their impressive turnout during the sensitisation sessions across the three senatorial districts.
She reaffirmed the commitment of the State Universal Basic Education Board to supporting policies and programmes that enhance teaching and learning outcomes, while appealing for sustained collaboration and compliance with established guidelines.
In separate remarks, school proprietors and other stakeholders pledged their readiness to support the successful implementation of the HOPE-EDU Programme, assuring government that learners in their schools would be properly captured and documented.
The Federal Government’s HOPE-EDU Programme is designed to improve education quality through effective data management, improved school administration, teacher development and increased support for learners. The initiative is also expected to reduce the number of out-of-school children and expand access to inclusive and equitable learning opportunities across the country.
