The Kwara State College of Education, Oro, in Irepodun Local Government Area, has resumed academic and administrative activities following months of disruption caused by insecurity in parts of the state.
The long-shuttered institution reopened on Monday, after the state government directed the resumption of formal operations amid what authorities describe as “improved security conditions.”
The reopening was formalised in an internal memorandum dated February 2, 2026 and referenced CEO/ADMIN/27/Vol.1/268, which was signed by the Deputy Registrar in charge of Information, Protocol and Publicity, Mrs. Lawal Taibat Saka-Bolanta. The document, seen by The PUNCH, was issued from the office of the Registrar and addressed to both staff and students of the college.
“In line with the directive of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, I write to inform staff and students of the re-opening of the college with immediate effect,” the memo stated.
It assured stakeholders that both academic and administrative activities would commence immediately and expressed appreciation to the state government, the Ministry of Tertiary Education, and other partners for their support.
The college’s reopening came on the heels of an announcement by the Kwara State Government that schools across the state would reopen from Monday following months of closures due to security threats. The directive was communicated in a statement issued on Sunday by the Press Secretary to the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Mr. Peter Amogbonjaye, quoting the Commissioner, Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe.
According to the government’s statement, school authorities throughout the state had been formally notified of the resumption of classes.
Speaking on the state of security, Dr. Olohungbebe said: “The government deems the situation now to be a lot better than it was before. Even so, we continue to maintain vigilance.”
The statement noted that security operations were ongoing to consolidate recent gains, with efforts also being made “to strengthen community resilience alongside kinetic operations by security agencies.”
The PUNCH had earlier reported that the college was closed several weeks ago after credible security threats forced students to vacate the campus and halted academic activities. The shutdown had sparked concern among parents, educational stakeholders, and community leaders, who questioned the safety of learners and staff.
The reopening also follows a broader state government order in November 2025 that saw primary and secondary schools closed in several parts of Kwara State, particularly in border and forested communities , after escalating cases of banditry and kidnappings. Authorities described the earlier decision as a precautionary measure aimed at protecting students, teachers, and other school personnel from potential attacks.
The government said sustained military and security operations in recent weeks have helped neutralise several criminal elements and restore relative calm to previously affected areas.
Security agencies are reported to be keeping a strong presence in vulnerable communities, while intelligence gathering and community engagement efforts have been intensified to prevent a resurgence of violent activities.
Parents, teachers, and school administrators have been urged by government officials to cooperate closely with security agencies, stay alert, and support ongoing peace-building efforts to ensure a safe environment for students and education workers across the state.
