Modinat Adekojo, Oluwatobiloba Alake, Ayobami Adejare, Joseph Folarin & Adekunle Okikiola
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, on Thursday, December 7,2017, commissioned a block of 3 classrooms, administrative offices and toilet facilities donated by Alhaji Monzor Kolawole Olowosago, Publisher of Oriwu Sun Newspaper, to the Estate Primary School located within the Federal Low-Cost Housing Estate in Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Ikorodu division.
The Governor was represented at the commissioning event by Mr Kehinde Joseph, the Special Adviser on Civic Engagements.
In his speech at the event, Alhaji Olowosago stated that he did not embarked on the project because he has the means but because, “I saw a need in my environment and decided to meet that need to the benefit of the community”.
“My organization, Oriwu sun, recognized the need to come to the help of this school in our community and the need to support the efforts of our State Government and agreed to buy into it”,he added.
“Through the collective efforts of my hardworking, loyal and trustworthy staff, we decided to plough back to the society part of the proceeds of the patronages which the State Government and its agencies and other groups give to us in the form of advertisements”.
“Hence, we approved the construction of a modern block of three standard classrooms, with offices and toilet facilities in this Estate Primary school”, Alhaji Olowpsago stated.
The Publisher challenged the pupils to use their education to achieve greater things in life.
“To the pupils of this school that is now in the limelight, I urge you all to keep your head high and never feel inferior nor lose focus. Remember that your primary goal now is to acquire education. Know it that most of the leaders of this country came from poor homes but became great because of the education they got. No matter how rich you become in life, if it is not backed with education, you will look inferior to others”.
Gov. Ambode in his address, which was delivered by his representative, appreciated the gesture of Alhaji Olowosago in supporting the Lagos State Government’s efforts to development education.
He also enjoined other well-meaning Nigerians to emulate the good deed of the publisher by giving back to the society.
In her welcome address, Mrs Olanrewaju L.O, the Head Teacher of the school, thanked Alhaji Olowosago for the gesture and recalled how the school was established.
“The staff, pupils and the entire community are grateful to Alhaji (Chief) Monzor Olowosago, the Publisher of Oriwu Sun Newspaper for his immense contribution to the development of education as this will go a long way in reducing the long burden that had been affecting teaching and learning in the school”.
Mrs Olanrewaju, who stated that the school presently has 604 pupils with 10 teaching staff, 8 non-teaching staff and 4 N-Power participants, stated that when the school was established, it was first harboured at the Salvation Army Primary School,Ikorodu, and was later moved to Late Alhaja Atinuke’s (Iya Suna of Nigeria) house along Sabo- Itoikin road, Ikorodu, from where it was moved to the abandoned Mobolaji Johnson Estate which according to her, was not conducive for learning and teaching due to the dilapidated state of the building.
On November 8, 1996, the school was again moved to the abandoned Social Democratic Party (SDP) Secretariat along Itamaga road from where it was eventually moved to its present location on Monday, December 15, 1997, with six functional classrooms built by the Lagos State Primary Education Board.
A special award was presented to Alhaji Olowosago by Alhaji Ganiu Sopeyin, Chairman, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), in appreciation of his contribution to the development of the school.
Other dignitaries at the commissioning were Hon. SOB Agunbiade, Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly, Olori Kudirat Shotobi, wife of Oba of Ikorodu, Otunba Ayodele Elesho, former Commissioner of Information, Lagos State, Prince Adesegun Ogunlewe,former Head of Service, Lagos State, Oba Richard Ogunsanya, Olubeshe of Ibeshe, Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, former Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Sheikh Yahyah Osoala,Chief Imam of Oriwu Central Mosque,Mr Taiwo Oduloye, Executive Secretary, Local Government Education Authority, Otunba Fatai Olukoga, former Special Adviser on Education , top public officers, traditional chiefs and others.
