Oyo govt, UBEC, Think Equal partner to strengthen foundational education
By Adejayan Gbenga
The Oyo State Government has expressed readiness to partner with the Universal Basic Education Commission and Think Equal Organisation, USA, on a social and emotional learning initiative aimed at strengthening foundational education in the state.
The Executive Chairman of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr Nureni Aderemi Adeniran, disclosed this on Thursday, September 3, 2026, while receiving representatives of Think Equal Organisation and UBEC officials during a sensitisation and engagement visit to the board’s headquarters in Ibadan.
The initiative, tagged “Think Equal Pre-Primary and Primary Literacy Programme: A Social and Emotional Learning Initiative,” is designed to complement conventional literacy education with skills that promote empathy, emotional intelligence, self-regulation and positive social interaction among children.
Adeniran highlighted interventions by Oyo SUBEB in pre-primary education, including the training of 320 Early Childhood Care, Development and Education teachers across the 33 Local Government Universal Basic Education Authorities in the state.
He attributed progress in the education sector to the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde, citing investments in school infrastructure, teachers’ welfare and professional development, as well as the sustained provision of free basic education and prudent deployment of UBEC and SUBEB intervention funds.
The SUBEB chairman assured the visiting officials that the board would review the implementation modalities of the initiative, including teacher development, classroom resources, monitoring and evaluation, to ensure effective integration with the state’s existing school system and curriculum.
Speaking at the engagement, UBEC Zonal Director, Mrs. Beatrice Okei, said the initiative came at a time when UBEC and state education boards were sustaining investments in basic education, teacher development, infrastructure and teachers’ welfare. Meanwhile, Think Equal Initiative Senior Manager for Africa, Middle East and Asia, Mr. Anas Tahhan, stated that the training focused on revised Learning Through Play pedagogy designed to promote holistic development and child-centred teaching.
Adeniran thanked Think Equal and UBEC for selecting Oyo State as a pilot state, describing the move as recognition of the state’s leadership in education. He expressed optimism that the partnership would deliver meaningful results. The event was also attended by the OYOSUBEB Executive Secretary, Dr Kemi Adeosun, and other directors of the board.
