The Kwara State Government has finalized plans to renovate 898 public junior and senior secondary schools across the state as part of its efforts to provide a more conducive environment for teaching and learning.
This development was disclosed during the monitoring of a five-day training programme for over 5,000 members of the School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs), held at the College of Education, Ilorin.
Mr. Adeshina Salami, Project Coordinator of the Kwara State Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project, stated that the SBMC members will be responsible for overseeing the school renovations. He explained that the training, which falls under the “1.2 Renovation sub-component” of the AGILE project, focuses on outlining the roles and responsibilities of the SBMCs, as well as guiding them in the development of School Improvement Plans (SIPs).
He acknowledged Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s support for the project, noting that it aims to create safe and supportive learning spaces, especially for adolescent girls. He also emphasized that the initiative is designed to boost the enrolment and retention of girls in school, supporting them to complete at least their secondary education.
According to Mr. Salami, the SBMCs, made up of key community stakeholders, will take the lead in implementing the renovations. Each committee is currently receiving training on needs assessment, project planning, and management to ensure effective service delivery.
The training is being held simultaneously across the three senatorial districts in the state. Each of the 898 participating schools is represented by six committee members, including the SBMC Chairperson, the school principal (serving as Secretary), a female treasurer, a teacher representative, and two artisans with expertise in building and construction.
Also speaking, Aminat Shehu, the 1.2 Renovation Lead for Kwara AGILE, highlighted that the sub-component includes the provision of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities alongside classroom renovations. She stressed that involving SBMCs in SIP development encourages ownership and accountability in the use of allocated funds.
“The training equips SBMC members with the skills and knowledge to effectively monitor school renovation projects, ensuring quality delivery and transparency,” she said.
Engineer Muhyideen Alimi Yusuf, Managing Partner at Alim and Associates and consultant for the renovation sub-component, described the training as an opportunity for SBMC members to clarify their roles and raise concerns ahead of implementation.
One of the participants, speaking on behalf of the others, thanked the governor for his ongoing investment in education and pledged to support the successful execution of the community-led AGILE initiative.
