Japan donates 231 classrooms to Oyo

As part of efforts to boost the quality of education in the country, especially at the primary school level, the Japanese government, through its embassy in Abuja, has donated 231 classrooms and 218 toilet booths to 30 primary schools in Oyo state.

The project commissioned on Monday, July 4, 2016 at St. Luke Demonstration School, Molete, Ibadan, and implemented through the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), cost the Japanese government $13.2m.

Japanese ambassador to Nigeria, Sadanobu Kusaoke, said at the commissioning that his government has been committed to uplifting education in Nigeria under the 5th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V), and still stands committed to the same goal even as TICAD VI, which would be held in Nairobi in August, is being awaited.

In a statement a copy of which was made available to The Guardian, the ambassador thanked the Oyo State government for the land acquisition and for providing security on the project site.

The envoy who said that the Japanese government was favourably disposed to helping Nigeria diversify her economy to help the non-oil sectors create more jobs, and facilitate the development of infrastructure, agriculture and the manufacturing sub-sectors, added that the, “The second priority is social development, empowering people, improving health and the education system. The current Oyo State school project is perhaps the most important project so far in our support to education in Nigeria.”

He explained that the state was chosen because of its enthusiasm to improve its education sector.