Kunle Adelabu
-Describes state of school appalling
Disturbed by the terrible state of structures which accommodate about 350 pupils in Local Government Primary School, Oreta in Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Ikorodu Division, Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, the Ikorodu Division Peace Initiative Limited/GTE (IDPIL/GTE), has decided to step in and give the school a facelift.
THE IMPACT gathered that the main structure in the school was built in the 1970s, while the other was constructed in 1948, when the school started operation. While the former’s roof is in bad shape with toilet facilities attached to it, the latter is seriously threatened.
There are only seven ‘functional’ classes for the over 300 pupils in the only public school in the area.
The IDPIL’s intervention is coming following the reports by THE IMPACT newspaper in May, titled, ‘Photos: Shameful State Of LG Primary School In Igbogbo/Bayeku Council Area’, and ‘Residents Call Out Lagos Govt, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA Authorities Over Dilapidated LG Pry School ln Oreta’. Both stories exposed the disheartened state of the school and the need for urgent intervention.
The IDPIL, led by Sir (Otunba) Ayodele Elesho, the former Commissioner for Information and Chairman, Education Committee, IDPIL, visited the school on Thursday, for an on the spot assessment.
With him were Mr Taiwo Hassan Awolaru, Administrative Secretary, IDPIL/GTE, as well as a carpenter and bricklayer who did proper assessment of the structure that the group is proposing to rehabilitate.
While the Executive Secretary, Local Government Education Authority (LGEA), Ikorodu Local Government, Alhaji Afolabi Amusa, sent a senior staff of the LGEA to accompany the team, a senior official of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education (LSUBEB), was on ground for separate official duty during the IDPIL’s visit to the school.
During the tour of the facilities, Otunba Elesho, accompanied by the Head Teacher, LG Primary School, observed that the first structure is seriously threatened and there is need to pull it down before any unfortunate occurrence happens.
He also said that the other structure will be taken over for rehabilitation by the group, on which they are going to do a total overhauling of its roof, ceilings and the toilet facilities attached to it.
Incidentally, the Ikorodu Division Parents’ Forum, under the Chairmanship of Mr Jenrade Mokolade, was meeting in the school during the visit, and consequently invited Otunba Elesho, to address them.
The former Commissioner assured parents that the main building will be rehabilitated before the resumption for another session.
He pleaded with parents not to leave everything concerning the education of their children to the government alone, while also charging them to always monitor them closely.
In an interview with THE IMPACT, after the tour of the school’s facilities, Otunba Elesho described the situation in the school as appalling, and reiterated that the IDPIL, will be intervening as soon as possible.
“The situation here is terribly appalling. I felt so bad that we can still have a public school in this state in Lagos State. The building behind me, I was told, was built in1948, and it is due for complete demolition”, he said.
“By the grace of God, the Ikorodu Division Peace Initiative Limited, is going to fully rehabilitate the other structure to the extent that the students will love it, but this one (pointing at the other one built in 1948), has to be pulled down by the Lagos State Government.
“The school still has a large space where the government can build a block of at least 12 classrooms, six on the ground floor and another six on the first floor, with toilet facilities and offices.
“We have passed this stage in Lagos State. I never dreamt that we can still have a school in this state, but I can assure you that by the grace of God, the Ikorodu Division Peace Initiative Limited, through its Education Committee, will start working on the building, as soon as possible”.
Our reporter also gathered that the academic atmosphere in the school, is also being disturbed by residents who are reportedly throwing their faeces into the school compound.
Also, it was gathered that the school is also experiencing theft of its items.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of lgbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Builder Sesan Daini, has also stated that the council will be intervening in the school. Although, he was not specific about the nature of the intervention.
“On the Oreta School (LG Primary School), the council will be intervening. I have visited the school, and I can assure you that we will be doing something there during the holiday”, he said.
Daini, also responding to our reporter’s enquiry on what led to the delay of the commencement of academic activities at the newly constructed Olu – Odo Primary School, contrary to his promise that the school would start operations in January 2023, said that the council is following due process.
The new school construction was facilitated last year by the representative of the Ikorodu Federal constituency, Rep. Babajimi Benson, as part of the numerous school buildings that he facilitated across his constituency, during second term.
“I can recall that you reported that we were starting academic activities this year. Anyway, we are following due process regarding that. It is not only the responsibility of the council, the LSUBEB (Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board) will be involved”, he said.
“The school needed to be populated by pupils, and we are looking at moving some pupils from the AUD Primary School to the place, because it is the closest school to Olu – Odo. The AUD Head Teacher will also have to oversee the new school, for a while.
“That is the situation, and we are doing everything to ensure that the school is operational, so as to cater for the children in Olu – Odo axis”, he said.
Hon. Nurudeen Alimi, the leader of the Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA Legislative arm and the Councilor representing the Oreta axis, in a telephone interview with our reporter, also confirmed the council’s intervention in the school.
In another development, Otunba Ganiyu Abiru, the Executive Secretary, IDPIL confirmed to our reporter that the body is set to provide solar street lights in two areas in Igbogbo.
He said that the solar lights is part of the body’s effort in providing security for lives and properties in the area.
