Ekiti SUBEB Trains Master Trainers on Social Mobilisation

 

The Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has trained Social Mobilisation Officers (SMOs) to strengthen community participation in school governance and improve basic education delivery across the state.

The two-day capacity-building training brought together School-Based Management Committee (SBMC) Master Trainers, officials of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and SUBEB, as well as other stakeholders in the basic education sector.

Speaking at the training, the Executive Chairman of SUBEB, Prof. Femi Akinwumi, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the board, Mr Michael Omolayo, described the exercise as timely and strategic.

Akinwumi said the training was designed to equip SMOs with the knowledge and skills needed to strengthen SBMCs and improve school governance.

He said the role of social mobilisation officers in promoting effective SBMCs and improving basic education delivery could not be overemphasised.

“When SBMCs are properly mobilised, trained and functional, school governance becomes more transparent, inclusive and responsive, leading to improved enrolment, retention, completion and learning outcomes,” he said.

The SUBEB chairman said effective social mobilisation and stronger SBMCs were essential to reducing and ultimately eliminating the number of out-of-school children in the state.

He urged the participants to apply the knowledge acquired to promote safer schools, strengthen community involvement and improve school governance.

Akinwumi also urged the master trainers to see their responsibilities as critical to achieving inclusive, safe and equitable basic education for every child in the state, in line with the vision of the Biodun Oyebanji administration.

Earlier, the Director of Social Mobilisation at SUBEB, Mrs Olayinka Ayodele urged the participants to remain attentive and proactive  and ensure they share the knowledge acquired with SBMCs and communities in their respective Local Government Education Authorities (LGEAs)

She thanked the board's management and UBEC for their continued commitment to building the capacity of social mobilisation officers..

In a goodwill message, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Aisha Garba, represented by the state coordinator, Mr Tokunbo Olajubu, commended Ekiti SUBEB for its sustained capacity-building efforts and effective implementation of the commission's programmes.

Garba reaffirmed UBEC's commitment to strengthening social mobilisation as a means of promoting community ownership of schools.

She assured the board of the commission's continued support towards achieving the objectives of Universal Basic Education in Nigeria.

The training featured technical and plenary sessions on the roles of social mobilisation officers in strengthening SBMCs, safe schools, gender-based violence, effective communication, school development plans and resource mobilisation.

The sessions were facilitated by a UBEC lead facilitator, Dr Mohammed Adams Shuaibu, who equipped participants with practical strategies and tools for effective community mobilisation.

The event was attended by SUBEB directors, social mobilisation officers and desk officers from LGEAs across Ekiti.