Yayi supporters seek stronger funding for schools and promise 250,000 student votes in 2027

Ogun State students backing the governorship ambition of Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, have called on the state’s next governor to commit 26 per cent of the annual budget to education, citing a UNESCO benchmark for public investment in the sector.

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The demand was made in Abeokuta on Wednesday during a solidarity rally organised by the Students’ Wing of the Yayi Progressive Movement in support of Adeola’s bid to become governor of Ogun State in the 2027 election.

The students said their support for the senator would not prevent them from holding him accountable on education if he wins the governorship race, with the movement insisting that stronger funding is essential to improving learning conditions across the state.

Speaking at the rally, the Coordinator of the Students’ Wing of the movement, Oladotun Opaleye, said the students would continue to press Adeola to prioritise education and meet the 26 per cent allocation target they attributed to UNESCO.

“We have a UNESCO standard of 26 per cent. Apart from the fact that we are supporting him, we are going to be on him to ensure that there is a budgetary allocation of 26 per cent to education,” Opaleye said.

He expressed confidence that Adeola would support the demand, describing the senator as a politician who values qualitative education.

The rally, according to Opaleye, attracted more than 10,000 students who gathered to show solidarity with the senator and recognise his reported interventions in the education sector.

He particularly cited the recent payment of bursaries and scholarships to 5,312 students across Ogun State, describing the intervention as a significant gesture to students.

“Just a few days ago, he paid bursaries and scholarships for 5,312 students in Ogun State. This is without any precondition. This is no mean feat; no other person in the history of Ogun State has ever done that,” he said.

Beyond financial assistance, the students urged the next administration to address the condition of infrastructure in the state’s tertiary institutions, particularly laboratories and classrooms.

Opaleye said many campuses required urgent rehabilitation and called for sustained investment to create better learning environments for students.

“Our campuses are in dire need of infrastructural development. We are hoping that he’s going to bring so much development in terms of laboratories, classrooms and things like that,” he said.

The students’ demand comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 governorship election, with education expected to remain a major issue for young voters and other stakeholders seeking improvements in public services.

While the rally was organised to support Adeola’s political ambition, the students also sought to frame their backing around specific expectations for the education sector, including increased budgetary allocations, improved infrastructure and continued support for students.

Opaleye further called on students across Ogun State to support Adeola, saying the movement had set an ambitious target of mobilising 250,000 votes for him in the 2027 governorship election.

“Our target is to ensure that we deliver 250,000 votes for him in the forthcoming 2027 elections,” he said.

The demand for greater education funding highlights the growing emphasis on youth-focused policies as political parties and aspirants prepare for the 2027 elections.

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For students, however, the central issue extends beyond political endorsements to whether future administrations can translate campaign promises into stronger schools, better facilities and more accessible educational opportunities.