Wale Jagun & Mariam Akinloye
-Monarch commissions Blocks of 3 classrooms, administrative block, 4 toilets
The Ayangbure of Ikorodu, His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, and his Chiefs have pledged their commitments towards the provision of more facilities to compliment the efforts of the government in raising educational standard in lkorodu and Lagos State in general.
Also, Chief Yemi Lawal, the Bobamuero of Ikorodu Kingdom, and High Chief Adewunmi Ogunsanya, the Odofin of Ikorodu Kingdom, announced their readiness to ensure that there are good public schools with required infrastructure and equipment to produce excellent students in Ikorodu.
These statements of assurances were made at the commissioning and handing – over ceremony of a block of 3 – Classrooms, a store and an administrative office with an adjoining block of 4 – toilets at the Muslim A Primary School, Etunrenren in Ikorodu.
The commissioning, which was held on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, was part of the events marking the 6th installation anniversary of Oba Shotobi as the Ayangbure of Ikorodu.
According to report, the project was initiated by Senator Ganiu Olanrewaju Solomon in 2013 and completed by Chief Yemi Lawal, the Bobamulero of Ikorodu, with the intervention of the Ayangbure of Ikorodu Kingdom.
Oba Shotobi, in his royal speech at the commissioning, thanked Senator Solomon and Chief Lawal for putting smiles on the faces of people of Ikorodu with the construction of the blocks of classrooms and toilets in Muslim A Primary School.
He charged Baales to ensure that land that has either been donated or allotted for schools, hospitals and for other public use are protected and used for the purpose they are meant for.
The royal father, who said that he is a product of public schools, explained that he had to intervene in the completion of the project because he cannot be watching the pupils of the school learning in dilapidated structures.
“It is commendable of Senator Ganiu Solomon to have deemed it fit to construct this structure. When we intervened to complete it, we thought that we were going to demolish parts of it but it was still solid. All that we did was to do the roofing, lockers, blackboards, chairs, windows and doors and these were done by my God – sent son, Yemi Lawal.
He charged the school manager and teachers to ensure that the palace's attention is drawn to the needs of the school and also bring to his attention whenever any structure requires intervention before it degenerates.
“To whom that much is given, much is expected, the school manager and teachers should always call our attentions to any given situation and not wait until it gets to a worse level. Somebody must be watching rather than displaying the ‘I don’t care attitude”, Oba Shotobi said.
“If we have been rehabilitating (the dilapidated structures) stage by stage, it won’t get to this stage and I hope that in the next 29 years, nothing will happen to this structure.
“Please, if you see something, say something. We are here to assist. I will be going round the schools in Ikorodu to monitor and supervise their activities and also report the situation to the Governor directly. I hope that you will take proper care of the little ones that we have on ground”, the royal father charged the teachers.
“All that you need to do is send photograph of any structure needing attention with a letter to me so that I will know how to follow up with my chiefs that have promised you that they will renovate the remaining dilapidated structures within the school”, Oba Shotobi told Muslim A Primary School Manager.
The revered royal father, who sang a popular Yoruba song in the 80s, ‘Bo ba kawe re, bata re a dun koko’ (You will be a great person if you are serious with your education) while addressing the pupils of Muslim A Primary School, charged them to be committed to their studies.
“Here I am today with the little education that my parents gave me. We have been praying for you because I want you to become medical doctors, Chief Imams, Pastors, Engineers, Lawyers, Ministers, Commissioners, Senators and by the special grace of God, we want to see Governor of Lagos State among you”, he prayed,
Oba Shotobi also charged parents to be responsible and committed to making their children’s and ward’s education top priority in order to have a good life and rest at the later stage of their life.
Chief Yemi Lawal, the Bobamulero of Ikorodu Kingdom who completed the project, said that it was an honour for him to embark on the project when his attention was called to it by the royal father.
“It’s an honour to be here when the Kabiyesi called my attention to the project. The day we came here we could not enter and I only saw it from afar”, he said.
“I thank God Almighty Allah for making it (the completion of the school structure) possible through my friends.
The philanthropist, who pledged to rehabilitate the other two structures that are dilapidated within the school premises, said that he was touched seeing the state of the two structures on arriving in the school to commission the completed structure.
“Coming here today to handover the project was supposed to be a thing of joy but seeing the state of other structures (pointing to two dilapidated blocks of classrooms), I feel so bad and it touches my heart”, he said.
“The only thing that we can give our children is education and I believe strongly in it. The only way that we can do it right is from the foundation.
“As a proud Muslim and the Imole Adinni of Lagos State, my role is to encourage youths and the only way to do that is to enable them imbibe strong Islamic culture and knowledge into their system.
“By the grace of God, I am taking those two buildings (the two dilapidated blocks of classrooms close to the school entrance) as my own personal project. Although, I don’t have the money, but by this time next year, those two buildings would also be like this (pointing to the newly built structure)”, Chief Lawal pledged.
“I don’t know where the money would come from but I put my trust in Allah. Allah has been doing it and He would also finish these two buildings. We have been doing this for the past 15 years and God has been doing this and He would also finish these two buildings.
“What I normally do when I go out is to get inspiration and when I got here today, I developed inspiration. When I saw those two buildings, it became something so painful to me and I asked myself if my own children can stay in them?”, he said.
“On the requests by the Head of the School, we will supply four trophies and ten sets of computer laptops, announced to the cheering teachers and pupils.
High Chief Adewunmi Ogunsanya, SAN, the Odofin of Ikorodu and the Chairman, MultiChoice, while commending Bobamulero of Ikorodu, said that he planned to announce that the two buildings will be taken over by him for rehabilitation.
He added that he will be taking over the dilapidated structures in various schools in Ikorodu for reconstruction and provide other things that are lacking in them.
“I was going to announce that I will be taking over the two blocks but my good brother, Bobamulero of Ikorodu, has done that”, a concerned senior legal practitioner said.
“Whatever is lacking in other schools, we are going to be providing them. For instance, there are requests from Aga (Aga Primary School).
“Whatever it is, be it fence, security, pitch, jerseys and others, I will sit down with Yemi (Chief Yemi Lawal) and take them up.
“Let me assure the old students of this school that whatever that is lacking in Muslim A (Primary School), I will do it. We are also going to be providing whatever that is missing in other schools across Ikorodu. I will take 100% care of them”, he emphasized.
“What we are trying to do is to build formidable primary and secondary schools. We have started in Bagidan and we intend to get special students that are intellectually committed and give them scholarships into Universities. This school will be added to the list”, High Chief Ogunsanya said.
Hon. Alawiye King, the Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Universal Education Board (LSUBEB), in his keynote address, said that the key function of SUBEB is the management of human resources and infrastructures for the development of basic education.
He described the completed structure as an exemplary act of selflessness and commitment.
He was represented at the commissioning by a senior official in LSUBEB.
“We are here today because of the selfless and committed efforts of our fathers who are collaborating with the government to improve the standard of basic education.
“It is worthy of note that in the recent time, the Lagos State Government under the leadership of His Excellency, Mr Babajide Sanwo- Olu, has been commissioning a lot of schools, but still, it is not enough because of our expanding population, that’s why support for the government’s efforts is always well appreciated.
“I have been made to understand that this school has a population of over 400 students and by UNESCO standard, we should be having nothing less than 13 to 14 classrooms but at the moment, they have six classrooms with additional three.
He said that his presence at the commissioning made him to know that Muslim A Primary School will still need more classrooms and security measures.
“It has been identified that they will be requiring more classrooms and more importantly, we have observed that the perimeter fence is none existing and with the security situation in the state, it will be given a priority.
The LSUBEB Chairman described the commissioning as a landmark event and charged beneficiaries and their managers to ensure that the building is put to good use.
“The commissioning of the project is a landmark event and we appreciate the facilitators and the Chief that has brought it into completion. This will be significant to the pupils and enhance the teaching and learning in the school.
“I will also enjoin the end users – the Education Secretary, Head teacher and pupils to take ownership of this building which is the most beautiful building in this school as at today. We want to come back and still find this building in good condition.
“You should let the facilitators be proud that the school appreciate what they have done.
The Educational Secretary, Local Government Education Authority (LGEA), Ikorodu Local Government, Mr Afolabi Amusa, described Muslim A Primary School as one of the worst schools in Ikorodu and commended the Ikorodu monarch for using prominent sons of Ikorodu to complete the project which was started by Sen. Ganiu Solomon.
He also commended the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu, for his government’s contributions to educational development.
Mr Richard Sunday Agunloye, the Manager of Muslim A Primary School, in his speech, was full of appreciation for the Ikorodu monarch for facilitating the completion of the school while also commending those responsible for the construction of the building.
“Today is another epoch making day that would open a brand new page in the history of this school. I welcome you all to the commissioning of a new block of 3 – Classrooms which will provide a good atmosphere for the purpose of learning to be achieved.
“We thank the Kabiyesi for making today a reality in our lives and that of the school. We cannot but show gratitude to you, Your Majesty, for the interest that you have in us.
“The befitting structure of a block of 3 Classrooms, an administrative office, a store and 4 toilets, is as a result of your love for education at the grassroots.
He commended Oba Shotobi for his intervention which made Chief Lawal to complete the project.
At the commissioning were Oba Kazeem Gbadamosi, the Ologojio of Ogijo, Sen. Ganiu Solomon, former Senator, Lagos West Senatorial District, Aremo Adeniyi Ogunsanya, the Aremo of Ikorodu, Chief Imam Seifudeen Olowooribi, the Grand Chief Imam of Ikorodu Division, Chief Imam Yahya Oshola As- Samadani, the Chief Imam of Oriwu Central Mosque, Sir Ayodele Elesho, the Agbaakin of Ikorodu, Mr Bisi Olatilo, a veteran broadcaster, Otunba Ganiyu Abiru, former IKODASS Chairman, Mr Rotimi Erogbogbo, new IKODASS Chairman, representative of SUBEB Chairman and Comrade Oluwafemi Fakolade among others.
