By Oluniyi Isamotu
Osun state government, under the leadership of Governor Addemola Adeleke, has pledged its effort and support to ensure drastic reduction in the out-of-school menace in the state.
This was made known today as the EduMarshals in the state embarked on a sensitization drive in the state capital on thursday to enlighten parents and guardians on the need to ensure all school aged children across the state are taken off the streets and also to encourage children in the state, attend school in order to take advantage of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s free and compulsory education policy.
Speaking during the sensitization drive, the Director of Schools in the Ministry of Education, Alhaji Aminu who spoke onbehalf of the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education, Mr Jimoh Adekilekun appreciate the effort of EduMarshals in the state for driving the effort of Governor Ademola Adeleke to reduce the number of out-of-school children in the state.
He encouraged the officers not to get deterred in carrying out their responsibilities, not withstanding the challenges that maybe encounter in enforcing the mandate of the government against the spread of out-of-school syndrome in the state.
An Aide of the Governor, Otunba Tunde Badmus, said it is in the core mandate of the present administration in the state to encourage child education in the state. He further commend the officers for carrying out their duties while assuring them of continuous government support in controlling the menace of out-of-school children in the state.
Mr Otun Alabi Mayowa who is the coordinator of the group and regional manager of the EduMarshals in the Southwest said, the core mandate of their agency is to checkmate and control the out-of-school menace in the state and Nigeria at large.
“The sensitization programme of today is to intimate parents, guardians and the public that the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke will not tolerate any kind of any school aged children hawking or working around during school hours and we thank God, the people warmly accept the gospel of the government we preached around today.
“Moreso, we’re a parent-friendly body, so it is not too difficult for us to sell our message and the acceptability of it in the public.
“Furthermore, I want to reiterate that the Governor has been doing a yeoman job in controlling the menace of out-of-school children while not neglecting our agency and officers even though we’re adhoc workers of the state government. However we will wish the monthly emoluments of our officers are increased, even though there’s an effect to that in the 2024 budgetary allocation, but quick implementation of it is what we now hope for” Mr Mayowa concluded.
