OGUN STUDENTS SEEK 26% UNESCO BENCHMARK FUNDING FOR EDUCATION

Students under the aegis of the Students’ Wing of the Yayi Progressive Movement have called on the next governor of Ogun State to allocate 26 per cent of the state’s annual budget to education in line with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation benchmark.

The students made the demand on Wednesday during a solidarity rally in support of the governorship aspiration of Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, in Abeokuta, the state capital.

Speaking during the rally, the Coordinator of the Students’ Wing of the movement, Oladotun Opaleye, said the students would continue to engage the senator on improved funding for education if elected governor.

“We have a UNESCO standard of 26 per cent. Apart from the fact that we are supporting him, we are going to be on him to ensure that there is a budgetary allocation of 26 per cent to education.”

“I believe that he’s going to do it as somebody who has value for qualitative education,” he said.

Opaleye explained that more than 10,000 students participated in the solidarity walk to appreciate Adeola for what he described as his contributions to the education sector, including the recent payment of bursaries and scholarships to 5,312 students across the state.

“Just a few days ago, he paid bursaries and scholarships for 5,312 students in Ogun State.

“This is without any precondition. This is no mean feat; no other person in the history of Ogun State has ever done that,” he said.

The student leader also urged the senator to prioritise the rehabilitation of infrastructure in tertiary institutions across the state, including laboratories and classrooms.

“Our campuses are in dire need of infrastructural development. We are hoping that he’s going to bring so much development in terms of laboratories, classrooms and things like that.

“We are going to push, and we are hoping that he’s going to do that for Nigerian students,” he added.

Opaleye further called on students across Ogun State to support Adeola’s governorship ambition, expressing confidence that the movement would mobilise 250,000 votes for him in the 2027 governorship election.

“Our target is to ensure that we deliver 250,000 votes for him in the forthcoming 2027 elections.

“By the grace of God, with what is on the ground and the kind of work we are doing, he is going to get it from the students’ angle,” he said.