The Ekiti State Government says it has paid over N9.7bn as counterpart funds to the Universal Basic Education Commission under the Biodun Oyebanji administration in the last three and a half years, resulting in improved outcomes.
The State Universal Basic Education Board Chairman, Prof. Femi Akinwumi, said the counterpart funds paid between 2022 and 2025 stood at N9.7bn.
He explained that N1.2bn was paid in 2022, N1.39bn in 2023, while N3.55bn was paid in both 2024 and 2025.
Akinwumi, who spoke during a chat in Ado Ekiti on Saturday, said the funds had significantly transformed public basic education in the state, improving teaching and learning environments, expanding access to education, increasing enrolment and retention of pupils, and reducing the number of out-of-school children.
He said, “The counterpart funds paid between 2022 and 2025 stand at N9.7bn. Of the sum, N1.2bn was paid in 2022, N1.39bn in 2023, while N3.55bn was paid in both 2024 and 2025.
“The funds have significantly transformed public basic education in the state through the provision of conducive teaching and learning environments, improved access to education, increased enrolment and retention of pupils, and reduction in out-of-school children.”
He added that the intervention had also improved healthcare delivery in schools through the provision of water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, enhanced digital literacy, increased availability of teaching and learning materials, and strengthened teachers’ capacity through regular training and retraining.
According to him, the counterpart funds had also fostered collaboration between government and development partners, leading to improved monitoring and implementation of educational projects.
The SUBEB chairman said: “Within the period, 699 classroom blocks were renovated — 208 blocks in 2022, 168 in 2023, 161 in 2024 and 162 in 2025 — while 106 classroom blocks are currently undergoing renovation or construction across the state.”
He added that the board also procured 8,410 pupils’ furniture and 1,447 teachers’ furniture between 2022 and 2025 to improve comfort and learning outcomes in schools.
According to him, 59 boreholes had been sunk in schools across the state since 2022, while 41 perimeter fences were constructed to enhance security.
Akinwumi said: “A total of 8,336 teachers have benefited from various capacity-building programmes between 2023 and 2026, while 355 caregivers were trained within the period.”
He said over N860m had been released as running grants to public primary schools since 2022, adding that the government also expended N182.3m on instructional materials during the period.
The SUBEB boss said the Oyebanji administration recruited 1,500 teachers and 200 non-teaching staff in 2023, as well as 362 security guards in 2024 to strengthen service delivery and improve school security.
On staff welfare, Akinwumi said 7,178 primary school teachers had been promoted since 2022.
He added: “259 teachers on Grade Level 15 were promoted to Grade Level 16 in 2025. This is a historic feat in the state’s education sector.”
The SUBEB chairman said a total of N268m had been disbursed under the staff housing and vehicle loan scheme for primary school teachers, adding that Governor Biodun Oyebanji recently approved N200m to recapitalise the scheme.
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