The Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, has reaffirmed the legislature’s commitment to advancing inclusive and gender responsive education reforms in the state, declaring that no society can rise above the quality and accessibility of its educational system.
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Ogundoyin made this known while speaking at the Policy Dialogue on Legislative Pathways for Inclusive Education Reform in Oyo State, organised by the Malala Fund Champions Network (ECN).
The high.evel engagement, held at BON Hotel Kabuwol, brought together policymakers, civil society organisations and development partners to examine legislative strategies for strengthening inclusive education.
The dialogue was convened by the ECN coalition comprising YouthHubAfrica, Education as a Vaccine, ACE Charity, Invictus Africa and One Life Initiative, in partnership with the state legislature.
Describing the dialogue as timely and strategic, the Speaker noted that it rightly places the legislature at the centre of education reform efforts. He explained that the constitutional responsibilities of lawmakers go beyond lawmaking to include oversight and appropriation key instruments for shaping policies, influencing budget priorities and ensuring equitable deployment of public resources.
Ogundoyin stressed that gender responsive education budgeting is not merely a technical exercise but a moral obligation. According to him, lawmakers must critically examine whether budgetary allocations adequately address barriers faced by girls, children with disabilities and other marginalised groups.
He raised critical concerns about whether sufficient resources are being committed to reducing the number of out of school children, addressing infrastructural deficits in rural schools and prioritising safety, sanitation and digital access across public institutions.
The Speaker maintained that beyond building classrooms and recruiting teachers, government must establish systems that are transparent, accountable and inclusive. He added that strengthening citizen participation in the budgeting process would enhance public trust and improve policy outcomes.
Assuring stakeholders of sustained legislative support, Ogundoyin said relevant House Committees, particularly those on Budget, Education, Science and Technology, as well as Women Affairs and Community Development, would continue to collaborate with civil society organisations and development partners to review existing frameworks, identify policy gaps and promote reforms capable of delivering measurable results.
He welcomed data driven advocacy and credible recommendations from civil society groups, noting that constructive engagement would ensure legislative interventions remain evidence-based and people centred.
Calling for collective responsibility, the Speaker emphasised that government alone cannot drive meaningful reform. He urged civil society to sustain research and monitoring efforts, communities to remain actively engaged and development partners to continue providing technical and strategic support.
Ogundoyin concluded by urging participants to move beyond dialogue to concrete, actionable commitments that could be translated into legislative instruments and budgetary priorities for the benefit of children across Oyo State, reaffirming the Assembly’s unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability and inclusive education reform.
