Jare Babatunde
The establishment of the first – ever public school in Egbin community by His Royal Majesty, Oba Akeem Adeoriyomi Oyebo, the Obateru of Egbin Kingdom, has continued to generate reactions.
The school, which is tuition free, has been accommodating many children who do not have access to education and as at the time our reporter visited the school, about 300 pupils from the Egbin Kingdom and other neighbouring towns have registered.
THE IMPACT, which reported the development first, also revealed that the monarch has also been providing the pupils enrolled in the school with uniforms, bags and books.
There is also plan to provide meal for the pupils once in a day.
In a statement sent to THE IMPACT by the immediate past President, National Association of Ikorodu Division Students (NAIDS), Prince Soyiga Samuel Adeshina, described the monarch as a ‘Students’ King’.
He recalled that during his tenure, NAIDS encountered problems in conducting its WAEC tutorials in the Ijede Local Council Development Area of the division due to lack of classrooms.
Soyiga, who was greatly concerned by the lack of public school in Egbin, said that he called Obateru to register his concern and he and his team later met with his lawyer who showed them the monarch’s plan to establish a school in his kingdom.
According to the former NAIDS President, the monarch fulfilled his pledge by establishing a tuition free school.
Soyiga also appealed to the Lagos State Government to release part of the lands acquired from the Egbin Kingdom back to the community for developmental purposes.
The statement by Prince Soyiga is reproduced below:
Obateru Of Egbin – The Students’ King
“During my tenure as National President of National Association of Ikorodu Division Students, there were numerous challenges that I encountered. I did all I could to ensure they were resolved and one of the challenges is, ‘Inadequate numbers of public primary and secondary school in Ijede LCDA’.
”This problem became known to us when our members agreed to prepare all students in exit-classes in Secondary school in Ikorodu Division by organising WAEC tutorial. I am still grateful to the students, political class, youths and others who supported us to make the initiative a success.
“Our facilitators in Ijede LCDA were faced with the challenges of limited schools. I immediately called our very good father, Mr. Fakolade (N.U.T Chairman in Ikorodu Division), who briefed us.
“I also called His Royal Majesty, Oba Akeem Adeoriyomi Oyebo, the Obateru of Egbin kingdom who fixed a meeting with us . I went in company of Barrister Adeleke Aroyewun, a Prince from Egbin Kingdom and Aliu Mubarak, General Secretary, National Association of Ikorodu Division Students. We met his lawyer who presented to us documents showing Obateru’s commitment and giant steps being taken on the issue.
“In less than a year, I am glad to celebrate with the good people of Egbin Kingdom and Ijede LCDA over the establishment of a tuition-free public primary school where uniforms and books are being distributed.
“Kabiyesi, we appreciate this gesture and we hope that secondary school too will come into earnest.
“This is also a call to the government to release land to the community to support this initiative and also support the school and her pupils”, he appealed
