Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has inaugurated a 12-member steering committee to lead the second phase of the European Union-funded “Education and Youth Empowerment Project” in Nigeria. The launch took place during a two-day State Inception Meeting of the EU-UNESCO initiative, held at Kakanfo Inn, Ibadan.
The project, officially titled Education and Youth Empowerment in Nigeria: Expand, Integrate and Strengthen Systems (EISS), is aimed at building teacher capacity and resilience across the state from 2024 to 2028.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Barr. Bayo Lawal, Governor Makinde emphasized the urgent need to improve Nigeria’s educational system in line with global standards. He identified this collaboration with the EU and UNESCO as a crucial step in driving change, noting that education remains a top priority under his administration—reflected in the 21.44% of the state budget allocated to it this year.
He urged the newly inaugurated committee to create a clear road map for the project and ensure schools provide a conducive learning environment. Makinde also acknowledged the efforts of EU and UNESCO in supporting the state’s drive for educational excellence at the foundational level.
The Head of the UNESCO Abuja Office, Mr. Albert Mendy, shed more light on the purpose of the project. According to him, the goal is to enhance student performance and support Nigeria’s human development by increasing the number of qualified, resilient teachers. This will be done through innovative training programs and education policies that align with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4, 4.5, and 4.7).
“The project will support improved quality of teaching and learning for all, especially at the basic school level through capacity development of teachers (in-service and pre-service), professional development opportunities, learner-centered participatory and inclusive instruction, the provision of adequate teaching and learning materials and the use of digital media and education-technology (EdTech) approaches inside classrooms for an inclusive, safe and resilient environment to deliver sustainable education services for the improvement of quality learning,” said Mr. Mendy.
Also speaking at the event, Magdalene Anene-Maidah from the UNESCO Abuja Office reiterated that the project is fully funded by the European Union, with UNESCO offering technical support. She highlighted the importance of building teacher clusters at the community level to foster stronger teacher-student relationships.
She further encouraged educators to become well-versed in the updated curriculum and embrace ICT tools to enhance teaching and learning experiences.
In his welcome remarks, Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Salihu Adelabu, stated that the EU-UNESCO partnership aligns perfectly with the state’s education reform agenda. He expressed gratitude to the EU for choosing Oyo State as a partner for such a transformative initiative.
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