The Kwara State Government has issued a formal advisory to individuals and organizations intending to provide educational materials to public schools throughout the state.
In a statement disseminated on Wednesday, the government expressed its disapproval of the practice of branding donated materials with political messages or imagery, categorizing it as inappropriate and counterproductive.
The Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Sa’adatu Moddibo-Kawu, underscored the necessity for an immediate cessation of such branding, particularly those that feature the donor's likeness or political affiliations.
“This practice, which involves inscribing the donor's image or other politically motivated symbols on educational materials, is unacceptable and must be terminated,” stated Moddibo-Kawu.
The commissioner reaffirmed that while the government values and encourages contributions to public education, there exists a strict policy prohibiting the use of these donations for political purposes. “Educational materials supplied by the state government since 2019 have been devoid of political branding, including images of His Excellency the Governor, as such practices are considered detrimental to impressionable young minds.”
The government called upon both public officials and private donors to comply with this policy and expressed appreciation for those who continue to support public education in a manner that remains free from political influence.