By Gafar Alabi,

The Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has assured the Cradle Steam Education Trust, a Non-Governmental organisation, of its support and strong collaboration in advancing initiatives aimed at ensuring that every child has access to basic and quality education.

 Chairman of the Board, Evangelist Olalekan Ifede, gave the assurance while receiving a delegation from the organisation in his office in Abeokuta, noting that the commitment of available resources by organisations and well-meaning individuals had a significant positive impact on the lives of out-of-school children.

Ifede, commended the NGO for its efforts in promoting basic education over the past three years, promising that the Board would provide necessary support where required. He also advised the organisation to extend its initiatives to other local government areas before expanding to other States.

“It is compulsory for all children, both in urban and rural areas, to have access to basic and quality education,” the SUBEB boss said.

In his remarks, Permanent Member II, Hon. Isiaka Aderounmu, urged the organisation to sustain its efforts by focusing on underprivileged pupils, especially in rural areas, advising that the selection process should remain apolitical.

Also speaking, the Director of Administration and Supplies, Mr. Femi Fatade, appreciated the NGO’s contributions to the advancement of basic education in the State, while he encouraged other stakeholders to emulate the initiative to reduce the number of out-of-school children to the barest minimum.

Earlier, the team leader, Miss Adedayo Alonge, explained that the organisation’s goal was to ensure that no child should be left out of school, regardless of circumstances, stressing that every child should be entitled to quality education.

Alonge, added that the NGO, which commenced operations about three years ago, started with two schools in Abeokuta, providing out-of-school children with educational materials such as uniforms, textbooks and notebooks.

She further noted that the organisation has positively impacted the lives of many pupils and called for more support from philanthropists and the Board to expand its initiatives to other local government areas.