Grassroots Interventions Stir Fresh Interest in Bala Across Akure South, North
12th September, 2026. AKURE
A series of community interventions in education, skills development, water access and livelihood support is drawing renewed attention to Hon. Bala as political discussions gather pace in Akure South and Akure North Local Government Areas of Ondo State.
Across schools, markets and vocational centres, residents and community leaders point to projects and assistance delivered over the past few years as factors behind the growing visibility of Bala in the two local government areas.
Unlike conventional political activities often centred on rallies and party meetings, the interventions have largely focused on addressing everyday needs within communities.
One of the initiatives, the Bag A Child programme, has provided school backpacks to about 500 pupils who previously carried their books in nylon bags or by hand.
School authorities in the area said the intervention had contributed to improved attendance and punctuality among some beneficiaries.
“Children are proud to come to school when they don’t feel different,” a headteacher in Akure North said.
More than 100 pupils in government schools have also had their term fees paid directly, while another 100 students received new school uniforms or had worn uniforms replaced, according to records made available by the team.
Teachers said the support had helped some pupils participate more confidently in classroom activities.
The education intervention also includes the distribution of more than 5,000 textbooks and exercise books covering subjects such as English, Mathematics, Sciences and Civic Education to 10 public schools across Akure South and North.
Some schools have subsequently revived libraries that had previously remained inactive, according to teachers.
Ahead of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations, more than 600 mathematical sets were distributed to students from SS1 to SS3.
The initiative has also extended to teachers, who receive teaching aids and welfare support during school visits.
“He doesn’t just ask about students. He asks about us too,” a school principal said.
Support for tertiary education, vocational training
The intervention has also targeted young people seeking admission into higher institutions.
For the 2026 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination, 100 forms were procured for qualified indigent school leavers, including first-generation university aspirants. Beneficiaries are also receiving support for post-UTME preparation.
In vocational training, 55 young people from Akure completed programmes in 10 areas, including fashion design, catering, information and communication technology, electrical works and barbing.
Each participant received a starter pack after completing the training to enable them to begin work.
One graduate said the support had enabled him to establish his own shop.
“I have my own shop now because of the starter kit,” he said.
Water and sports interventions
Water access has also featured among the community interventions, with industrial water tanks installed in areas experiencing shortages.
Residents said the facilities had reduced the distance people, particularly women and children, had to travel in search of water.
Local health workers also reported a reduction in time spent fetching water and some water-related health concerns, although no independent figures were provided.
Two secondary schools received support for extracurricular sports, including sporting kits, equipment and stipends for coaches.
The programme was designed to encourage participation in sports and provide opportunities for talent identification among students.
Annual assistance to market women
The support has extended to the commercial sector, with women traders in five major markets across Akure South and Akure North receiving financial assistance annually.
Market leaders said the funds had helped traders restock their businesses and cope with rising operating costs.
One trader in Oja Oba said the relationship with Bala had remained personal.
“He greets us by name,” she said.
Community members say the frequency of the interventions is becoming as significant as the individual projects.
The Bag A Child programme, they said, is carried out during school resumption periods, while market support is provided annually. School visits and community engagements have also continued outside election periods.
The pattern has become part of the conversation as political activities intensify in the two local government areas.
For some residents, the emerging debate is less about campaign promises and more about previous engagement with their communities.
In Ijapo, a JSS2 student who received a new uniform said: “This is my first new uniform.”
With discussions about political representation gaining momentum in Akure South and North, Bala’s supporters are increasingly pointing to these community-level interventions as evidence of an established relationship with constituents.
Whether that record will translate into broader political support, however, is likely to become clearer as the political process unfolds.
