Determined to sanitize the educational sector and enforce compliance with regulatory standards, the Kwara State Government has sealed multiple extra-mural coaching centres and cyber cafés that failed to register or renew their operational permits.
The action, which was executed across several communities in the state, follows a government directive requiring all learning and ICT service providers to operate only after fulfilling the mandatory registration procedures.
The crackdown was led by the Kwara State Agency for Mass Education in collaboration with the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service .
According to a statement released on Friday by Anigilaje Rasheedat, Press Secretary of the agency, the centres were shut for operating without legal backing. “These institutions have continued to operate illegally despite several notices and opportunities given by the government to comply with the law,” the statement read.
Yusuf Saka, the Executive Director of the Agency for Mass Education, said the move was aimed at upholding accountability in the state’s education sector.
Represented by the Desk Officer for Continuing Education, Mr. Adedare Olusegun, and Mrs. Komolafe Atinuke, Saka explained that the enforcement action became necessary due to persistent non-compliance.
“The government earlier issued notices to all extra-mural centres and cyber cafés, requesting them to register and obtain the necessary operating permits,” he said. “Unfortunately, several centres ignored the directive, leading to this clampdown.”
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Among those affected by the operation are Upward Success Academy (Offa Garage), Samis Educational Institute (Olunlade), Best Hand Coaching Centre (Odota), Leadership Seekers Educational Services (Asa Dam), Holla Success Computer Services (Sawmill Area), Dynamic Coaching Centre (Tanke), SoftRays Computer Institute (Tanke), and Cisse Edu Services. Officials noted that more centres will be evaluated for compliance in the coming weeks.
The enforcement team said these centres will remain shut until they complete their registration processes and settle all outstanding fees. “Any centre that continues to operate in defiance of these regulations will face legal action,” Yusuf warned.
He emphasized that the initiative is not only to uphold educational standards but also to ensure that the state’s revenue generation efforts are not undermined. “This is a dual-purpose action—to maintain quality control in the education sector and to boost internally generated revenue by eliminating illegal operators,” he added.
The agency further appealed to other unregistered operators to seize the opportunity to come forward and comply before facing similar sanctions. “We are not out to punish anyone unjustly. What we want is cooperation. The government is making efforts to uplift the standard of education, and we need stakeholders to align with that vision,” Yusuf said.
Some affected proprietors have expressed intentions to regularize their operations. Meanwhile, others are still in talks with officials to understand the specific requirements for re-opening.
In closing, the government reiterated its commitment to transparency and proper monitoring in the education and ICT services sector. Officials encouraged parents and students to ensure they patronize only certified learning centres going forward.
This development is one of several strategies adopted by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s administration to reform education and improve accountability in public and private service delivery across Kwara State.
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