The Oyo State House of Assembly member, Hon. Olufemi Fowokanmi has called on the state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde to intervene in the activities of the agency responsible for adult and non-formal education, Agency for Adult and Non-Formal Education (AANFE) that has been neglected for the past nine years in the state.
The lawmaker representing Ibadan South West state constituency II, called on the Governor to direct all Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas to comply with the release of five percent of their allocation to the agency to boost adult and formal education in the state.
This was contained in a motion presented by the lawmaker on Monday, during the plenary.
He disclosed that the agency (AANFE) was established to provide basic education to adult and youths who have no advantage or dropped out of formal education system.
Hon. Fowokanmi said further that the agency is designed to perform critical functions in reshaping the pace of the country’s intellectual, cultural, social and economic development to ensure achievement of national goals of unity, security and social justice.
The lawmaker, who is the Chairman, Committee on Education, identified lack of funds, insufficient literacy centres, insufficient instructional materials and inadequate adult education officers and instructors as some of the challenges affecting the agency.
Hon. Fowokanmi called for intervention of the state government to allow the targets and objectives of liberating the people from the vicious circle of poverty, economics dependence, and ignorance to materialized. He added that the agency, if well funded, will assist the state to reduce rate of illiteracy.
The lawmaker commended the initiative of Governor Seyi Makinde for approving two centres in each local government, making all the centres 68 in the state in the 2021 appropriation. He noted that the step will complement effort to make basic education available for all in the state.
While presenting the resolutions, he called for the release of two percent (2%) allocation from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to the agency on regular basis and encouragement of corporate organisations, religious bodies, individuals to collaborate with Agency for Adult and Non-Formal Education (AANFE) to establish more adult literacy centres in different parts of the state.
“I urge the executive arm of government to issue a directive to all LGAs and LCDAs to comply with the release of 5% of their allocation to AANFE or agree to a fixed amount as it was done up to 2011, when N40,000 was deducted from the source by all local governments to AANFE.”
The Speaker, while passing the resolutions as presented by the mover of the motion and seconded by Hon. Fola Oyetunji (Ibadan North 1), affirmed that the House will follow and ensure that necessary actions are taking to empower the agency and boosting adult and non-formal education in Oyo State.
