In a bid to galvanize support for the 2026 reelection bid of the Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, an All Progressives Congress’ Chieftain, Hon Marcus Ayodeji Alo, has distributed over 5,000 textbooks, exercise books and other instructional materials to students of six secondary schools in Omuo Ekiti, Ekiti East Local Government Area of the state.
Hon Alo said the programme, where over thousands of pupils had benefitted, was to strengthen actions being devised by Governor Oyebanji to eradicate out-of- school children in the state, where over 20 million are projected as sufferers nationwide.
The APC Chieftain spoke in Omuo Ekiti, on Tuesday, while briefing newsmen on his back-to-school, back – to-work programme he is funding to eradicate out-of-school children in Ekiti East Local Government.
Hon Alo, who commended the educational policies and initiatives of Governor Oyebanji, said he was enthralled to contribute to the sector on the premise that Ekiti has the least out-of- school children in the country.
The APC chieftain saluted the governor for strongly keying into the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to attract federal presence in terms of appointments and other benefits to Ekiti State .
In the same fashion, Hon Alo lauded the free education and free shuttle bus policies of Oyebanji’s administration, saying these two well implemented programmes have helped in stemming the tides of school dropouts and geometrically increased enrolments in primary and secondary school cadres.
He hailed the APC members and the Ekiti populace for the electrifying and groundswell of support being accorded Oyebanji’s government and his second term ambition.
“Education is the key to progress and the foundation of sustainable
development. It remains the only thriving industry in our dear state and we must all join hands with Governor Oyebanji to sustain the honour and dignity we have in the sector.
“What I have done was part of the commitments to ensure that no child is left behind due to lack of basic resources. Education for all policy of the federal government must be well rooted in our dear state and to achieve this, all hands must be on the deck to rally support to our education-friendly governor, Biodun Oyebanji.
“This gesture goes beyond the distribution of books; it is about laying a stronger foundation for the future of Ekiti State and Nigeria. Our children deserve the best tools to succeed, and I am determined to contribute meaningfully to that cause,” he stated.
Speaking about the 2026 election in Ekiti State, Hon Alo, described Oyebanji as having a bright chance of being reelected on account of his scintillating and superlative performance across all sectors of the economy.
“We can’t afford to fail a Governor that has done so much in the area of education, food security, payment of salaries,pensions and gratuities, youth empowerment and many others. We must all join hands by contributing our quota to support his government and that is exactly what I was doing.
“I am indeed happy that Governor Oyebanji has strengthened and elevated our politics, by keying into the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,
both of which prioritized education, youth empowerment, and sustainable national growth.
“Today, Ekiti is no longer at the lowest rung of the ladder in terms of federal presence, owing to the fact that we have a governor who is inclusive and striking the right chord with the right people to bring development to Ekiti and promote peace and unity”, Hon Alo said.
Hon. Alo expressed confidence that with unity of purpose, Ekiti can build a future that every citizen will be proud of through the relevant investment in education and human capital development.