The Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening its partnership with Evidence Action, describing the collaboration as vital to improving the health and well-being of learners in public primary schools across the State.

          Chairman of the Board, Olalekan Ifede, disclosed this during a courtesy visit by the Deputy Country Director of Evidence Action Nigeria, Dr. Olusola Adeoye, who led a delegation to the Board’s Secretariat, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. Evidence Action International; is an organisation that deals with improvement of public health, especially in schools, which commenced its operation in Nigeria in 2016 with major roless of conducting regular school-based deworming campaigns and training teachers to safely administer deworming medication.

Represented by Permanent Member IV, Rt. Hon. Akeem Balogun, the chairman noted that the partnership had significantly improved the health of thousands of learners across the State, assured the organisation of the Board’s continued support for its programmes and future interventions.

He commended Evidence Action for its sustained efforts, in conducting regular school-based deworming campaigns and training teachers to safely administer deworming medication.

Speaking during the visit, Dr. Adeoye, expressed appreciation to the Ogun State Government through SUBEB for its unwavering support since the organisation commenced operations in Nigeria. She emphasised that the continuous government commitment would encourage international donors to invest more resources in expanding the programme’s reach.

Also speaking, Senior Programme Manager, Mrs. Maryann Edeh, revealed that Ogun was the first State in Nigeria to partner with Evidence Action on large-scale school deworming, as over one million children had benefited from the initiative in the State.

She revealed that the organisation had extended its reach to ten states, reaching about six million school-age children annually through its “Deworm the World” initiative. She further highlighted other interventions, including nutrition programmes for children and pregnant women, malaria prevention and access to safe water in collaboration with Federal and State Governments.

Earlier, the Director of Social Mobilisation, Abodunrin Akinleye, described Evidence Action as one of the Board’s most reliable international partners, applauding its consistency in promoting learner health and strengthening teachers’ capacity.