Ogun Govt Embarks On Enrollment Drive In Public Primary Schools To Combat Children Out-of -School Challenge

Ogun State Government says the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration has initiated a school enrolment drive programme as a strategy to tackle the challenge of out-of-school children in the State with the intention of reducing it to the barest minimum.

The State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu made this known while leading an enrolment drive exercise for the 2026/2027 academic session to market places and motor parks across the four divisions of the State, enjoining parents and guardians with children of three to six years of age to take them to any nearby public primary school for free registration.

Arigbabu, recalled that the initiative which focused mainly on sensitisiting the public on the need to enrol every child at early stage had been in effect since the inception of the present administration, saying it was part of its commitment towards ensuring that every child in the State had access to qualitative free education.

"This is what we have been doing from the inception of the present administration and we have seen improvement in the enrolment, with the level of enthusiasm and feedback toward’s the drive, we envisioned that more children would be brought to school as this will drastically reduce out-of-school phenomenon in Ogun State," Arigbabu affirmed

Also speaking, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Oluwatosin Oloko, urged market women to desist from making their wards hawk around, especially during the school hours, saying all parents should take advantage of the free education policy and enrol their wards.

On his part, Chairman, Association of Primary School Headteachers of Nigeria AOPSHON, Ogun State Chapter, Alhaji Tajudeen Adeosun, assured that as the registration for 2026/2027 academic session is ongoing, all Headteacher and teachers would be on ground to register the children from 9am to 1pm everyday.

In their separate remarks, the Iyalojas of Oke Aje, Ilaro, Lanfewa, Elega and Kuto Markets, Chief Mrs. Risikatu Idowu, Alhaja Sidikat Owe, Alhaja Nuratu Okanlawon and Alhaja Iswat Adewuyi, respectively appreciated the government for its relentless efforts to ensure that every child becomes educated and have certainty of a brighter future.