Kunle Adelabu
-IMPACT mobilises for school’s rehabilitation
-We can’t afford cost of total rehab – Igbogbo/Bayeku Council Leader
Residents of Ikorodu have continued to condemn the Lagos State and the authority of the Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA), over the disturbing state of the Local Government Primary School, Oreta in Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA), of Ikorodu Division, Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria.
THE IMPACT had, on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, posted pictures depicting the dilapidated state of the structures in the riverine school and the unconducive environment in which pupils are being made to learn.
In response, the administrators and participants on the community news medium’s WhatsApp platform, have started raising funds for intervention in the school.
The idea, which was welcomed after we reported the situation at the school, has also generated public outcry, describing the situation as a failure on the part of the council authority which usually budgets millions for education in its yearly budget.
Many that commented on the story condemned the failure of the government, both the council and the state levels.
Bayode Treasures Olawunmi, holder of the Guinness World Record Longest Marathon Read Aloud in the team and individual categories, also blamed government and the community for the situation where poor pupils are being forced to have their studies in a very unconducive environment.
He further blamed the community for failing to hold those in public offices accountable.
“I am finding it difficult to sleep since seeing that report. How can I sleep when some innocent children bear the consequences of the ineptitude of their fathers and leaders? How can these kids study under that condition and their parents will expect them to excel?”, he lamented.
“Many of us have our kids in schools with cozy environments, yet these beautiful kids are out there in this unacceptable condition. I am not saying it is our fault, not far from it, but I say it is our fault. It is our fault because we failed to hold our office holders accountable.
“It is our fault because we failed to tell the truth to the faces of our local government’s chairmen, but instead hail them. If Igbogbo Local Council doesn’t have resources to fix this school, they could at least lobby the State and SUBEB to step in, we have a senior member of SUBEB in Ikorodu. Is he aware of this school and the state it is?”, Bayode asked.
Matti Horlarburde Lartyf, a resident of Ikorodu, reacting, said that the government has neglected many primary schools in Ikorodu.
“Most of the primary and secondary schools in Ikorodu, have been neglected with no touch of government for years”, he alleged.
“It is so unfortunate that some set of schools that have influence with the government are the ones enjoying and have good structures which is not the way to develop education. All schools must have equal rights to have better and befitting structures to accommodate students for learning”, he added.
An Islamic scholar, Shaykh Imam Olohunloraemiyin, appealed for the intervention of the Governor of Lagos State.
“I call on Gov. Sanwo- Olu for the refurbishment. Save the children and education pls”, he pleaded.
Adebanjo Ayodele, in his own reaction, said that it is the duty of the government and not an individual or the old students’ association of the school, to ensure the rehabilitation of the school.
“There should be a body in the government to take up this matter… Old students or wealthy men or women have nothing to do with a government building collapsing in the face of our so-called government officials”.
Meanwhile, the Leader of the Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA Legislative Arm, who is also the Councilor representing the area, Hon. Nurudeen Alimi, spoke with our reporter on Thursday at the Council’s Legislative Chamber, and said that the council does not have the capacity to rehabilitate the school.
He said that there is need for intervention by the state government in what he described as pathetic and eyesore.
“We did oversight on schools in Igbogbo and the council did capture some of these schools in the previous budgets, but the LG Primary School, Oreta, wasn’t captured for this year because of funds, but we did other things like boards, furniture and mowing”, he said.
“On my own as the Councilor in whose jurisdiction the school is located, I gave them a deep well to address the water challenges that they faced and also other educational materials.
“The situation in the school is an eyesore, and the school is in need of total rehabilitation, but the Council Chairman said that there is no fund. We really need intervention from the state and other agencies”, he said.
“In term of structures, we don’t have the funds to reconstruct them totally”, he added.
Alimi also said that the community has written many letters to the Ministry of Education and the Local Government Education Authority (LGEA).
The Council Leader also pledged to be part of THE IMPACT’s fund raising for the school.
THE IMPACT also met with the Vice Chairman of the Council who also doubled as the Supervisory Councilor for Education, Hon. Maja, but he told our reporter that he doesn’t have the mandate of the Council Chairman, Builder Sesan Daini, who is currently on official visit to Canada, to speak on the matter.
Our reporter, thereafter, sent chats to the Chairman on WhatsApp since Wednesday, and a reminder through a voice call on Friday (today), but we are yet to hear from him.
