Questions Trail Osun’s Opon Imo Project as Allegations of ₦8bn Spending Resurface

Fresh controversy has emerged over the Opon Imo education initiative introduced during the administration of former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, following renewed claims that about ₦8 billion was spent on electronic tablets for secondary school students without a clear public account of how the funds were ultimately utilised.

Opon Imo, which translates to “Tablet of Knowledge”, was launched as an ambitious e-learning programme aimed at improving access to educational materials for students in public secondary schools.

The tablets were reportedly preloaded with digital textbooks, lesson notes and examination materials, and were presented by the government at the time as a cost-effective alternative to physical books.

However, recent public discussions and social media commentary have revived long-standing allegations surrounding the project. Critics claim that the programme cost the state about ₦8 billion and allege that the contract for the supply or production of the tablets was linked to Kamoru Aregbesola, a son of the former governor.

These claims also allege that the devices were withdrawn from schools within months of distribution.

According to the allegations, the tablets are no longer in use across public secondary schools, and there has been no comprehensive public explanation or audit detailing how the alleged ₦8 billion was spent.

This has reignited concerns over transparency, accountability and value for money in the execution of the project.

Supporters of the former administration have, in the past, argued that Opon Imo was a genuine innovation that helped students prepare for examinations and reduced the cost burden on parents.

They also noted that the devices were designed to be issued and retrieved periodically, rather than permanently owned by students.

Despite these explanations, questions persist about the long-term sustainability of the programme, the current whereabouts of the tablets, and whether the expenditure delivered measurable benefits to the state’s education sector.

The absence of the devices in many schools today has further fuelled public scepticism.

Neither the former governor nor members of his family have issued a fresh public response to the renewed allegations. There has also been no recent official statement from the Osun State Government providing a detailed breakdown of the project’s cost, implementation outcomes or asset recovery.

As political debates intensify ahead of future elections and amid broader conversations about governance and public spending, the Opon Imo controversy has once again become a focal point for critics calling for greater scrutiny of past administrations and clearer accountability for large-scale public projects.

For many residents, the unresolved questions surrounding the tablets and the alleged ₦8 billion expenditure remain symbolic of wider concerns about transparency in government programmes, particularly those involving innovation and technology-driven reforms.