NBS Commences Verification Of BESDA-Focused Schools In Oyo

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has begun a verification exercise of every Better Education Service for All (BESDA)-focused centre in Oyo State.

Speaking at the flag-off of a five-day training of NBS Enumerators in Ibadan today, the Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Nureni Aderemi Adeniran said the Board would collaborate with NBS to ensure a hitch-free exercise in the State.

Adeniran who said his office, in partnership with the office of the Statistician General of the State, would ensure the enumerators have unhindered access to the 21 BESDA focus Local Government Areas in the State, added that this will assist the government in attaining its aim to eradicate Out-Of-School Children menace in the state.

"We assure the NBS management that the State Government, through the Board will accord the verification agents all the necessary support and information they may require."

Adeniran added that the State Government will ensure pupils in affected BESDA focus-schools stay back, despite the holidays, during the verification exercise, to ease the process.

"BESDA is a programme-for-result, funded by the World Bank to support the increase in access to basic education by raising equitable access for Out-Of-School Children (OOSC), improve literacy and strengthen accountability for results in basic education in Nigeria. We are determined to make it work in Oyo State", Adeniran said.

He noted that the State is ready for NBS visitation in the selected schools across the state, to verify the authenticity of records kept by the implementing schools.

The Oyo SUBEB chairman stated that the Board will also provide data for the assessment of four Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs) on which the state would be rewarded.

"We welcome the NBS team and its Enumerators. This particular exercise, which is the second Phase, would be conducted in the 21 BESDA focus LGAs in our State."

In his address earlier, the South-West Zonal Controller, NBS, Bayo Okunuga hinted that the trained enumerators referred to as NBS verification agents would be deployed across various local governments in the state to collect data.

He thanked the Oyo State Government for its commitment to the success of BESDA and NBS verification in the State.

In attendance were the Statistician General of Oyo State, Adekunle Teslim Adejuwon; the Coordinating Director of OYOSUBEB, Abosede Owoeye and other management teams of the Board.