Amosun’s Uncompleted Model Schools Abandoned, Rot Away In Ogun Communities

Babatunde Tugbobo writes about what has become of the model secondary schools constructed by the immediate past administration of Ibikunle Amosun in Ogun State.

The joy of a farmer in Odoye community in the Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Chidi Nwafor, knew no bounds when he learnt of the past administration of Ibikunle Amosun’s plan to build model schools across the state, including Odo near his community.

The initiative mooted in 2012 gladdened the heart of Nwafor who hoped to give his children quality education since he never had the opportunity of receiving formal education. But 10 years later, his hopes appeared dashed as the school had become uncompleted after it was started. And to fulfill his dream of sending his children to school, they travel 16 kilometres to a neighbouring town to receive secondary education.

Primary education in the Odoye community is not hard to get as there are some primary schools in the community. But primary school graduates who want to proceed to secondary school usually face a hurdle.  This is a major concern as there are no secondary schools in Odoye and pupils travel about 16 kilometres to go to school in Ago Iwoye, a neighbouring town.

“There is no secondary school in Odoye, pupils who want to proceed to secondary school will have to go to Ago Iwoye which is about 16 kilometers from this place,” Nwafor said.

In Odo community in the Remo North Local Government, about 11 minutes drive from Odoye community where the model school is sited, residents of neighbouring communities such as Odoye have to seek alternative schools for their pupils seeking secondary school education since the ‘model school’ built in Odo by the past administration was not only abandoned but also neglected.

The promises

In March 2011, on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria as a governorship candidate in Ogun State, Amosun like other politicians made several promises at a campaign rally in Ijebu ode. Among the promises, he pledged to the people in the state that if elected, his administration would implement free education and health care programmes.

He said then, “By the grace of God, when Action Congress of Nigeria is sworn in, the party would provide free education for all primary and secondary school students.’’ Upon his inauguration after winning the election, the Amosun administration started a project named “the Ogun standard” aimed at improving the standard of governance in the state. The administration promised the construction of 26 new model schools to provide exemplary quality education for the students of the state.

“Just last week, we laid foundations of 26 new model schools which we believe will define the new Ogun standard in the provision of education at the secondary level,” the governor said at an event to celebrate the first year of his administration on May 29, 2012.

He also stated that the schools would make provisions for exceptional facilities in diverse areas including science, humanities, enterprise, and others.

He said then, “These schools will provide unparalleled facilities in science, technical education, agriculture, humanities, enterprise, and sports with full boarding facilities to serve the entire state.’’

However, the late state Commissioner for Education, Segun Odubela, at the time stated in a report in the May 2012 edition of the state monthly publication, ‘Ogun Update,’ that the construction of each school cost the government 750m with an additional 300m designated for each school.

“Each school comes to a total of N1.05bn. The 26 schools would be a total of N27.3bn” he said. Amosun in the last quarter of the year 2012 in an interactive session with state correspondents stated that his administration decided to construct the new model schools because they saw the long-time neglect of schools in the state, adding that his administration was working towards completion of the model schools.

“By early next year, 15 of these 26 model schools would be ready,” he had noted. October, 2022, marked the 10th year of the construction of the state-of-the-art schools. Some of them were completed and abandoned, others were uncompleted and abandoned.

Parents unhappy with development

A pastor and farmer residing in Imagbon community near Odo in the Remo-North LGA, Mr Emmanuel Sotikare, told our correspondent that the non-completion and abandonment of the school in Odo had dashed the hope they had when the school construction started about six and seven years.

He added, “Look at us, we have no social amenities. The completion of the school would have helped us as a community.’’

The uncompleted model school in Odo has been overtaken by weeds and thick bushes with foul odour from cow dung and urine pervading the milieu. It was observed that some herdsmen were likely inhabiting the building. Our correspondent could not tour the building for fear of attack. The project was commenced by the immediate past administration about six years ago and yet still at an uncompleted stage.

Lamenting the stress and cost of his children continuing their education at a public secondary school in Ago-Iwoye, Nwafor disclosed that he rented another house at Ago Iwoye for them. He noted that they only return to Odoye at weekends.

He stated, “Schooling that far is stressful not only for our children but the parents as well. Because of the distance, I had to rent another house at Ago Iwoye. They and their mother leave Odoye for Ago Iwoye every Sunday and they return on Friday. If the government had completed the school at Odo, it would have been helpful to us because it’s closer to our habitation.’’

Value of education

 No poverty and quality education are part of the sustainable development goal intended to be achieved by all countries before 2030. To curb poverty level and detach 100 million people from poverty before 2030, past and current governments initiated several poverty alleviation programmes but none has yielded any positive results.

A recent data by UNESCO in partnership with the Global Education and Monitoring Report, pegged Nigeria’s out-of-school children and youth population at 20.2 million. UNESCO added that there are 244 million children and youths between the ages of six and 18 worldwide who are still out of school. With the latest figure, Nigeria has the second highest unschooled children after India; Pakistan has the third highest. This figure nearly doubles the country’s oft-quoted decade-old figures of between 10 million and 13.5 million and long rated to be the highest in the world by the World Bank and other multilateral agencies.

Though education is on the concurrent list in Nigeria; indicating that both states and the Federal Government have a duty to drive quality and sustainable education, the states and LG have a responsibility apart from the Federal Government to drive primary and secondary education.

The UN notes thus, “Education is the basic building block of every society. It is the single best investment countries can make to build prosperous, healthy, and equitable societies.”

The South-West region used to be famous for progressive mass education strides had become laid back, dropping hugely in school enrolment, external examinations and hosting a growing army of out-of-school children. Ogun State is not left out in this worrisome development emanating from the region.

Buildings rot away

The model school built in Ago Iwoye was completed and named after a biologist and indigene of the town, Prof. Sanya Onabamiro.
Though it has lost its beauty to neglect over the years, perusing it even from a distance, one could imagine the planning and work invested into it.

Though completed with chairs and desks were haphazardly placed in some of the rooms.

Our correspondent went inside the two-storey building and saw a guard identified as Saliu Jimoh, who claimed to be an ex-cop. He stated that he was the one guarding the premises. Inside the building, it was observed that the edifice has two adjoining structures perhaps to serve as hostels but the premises was overgrown with tall grasses. On a closer look, one would notice that the painting had peeled off over time and lost its original colour. The walls of the building have begun to crack.

The building has been invaded by bees and bats flying around. Most of the rooms in the building have not been properly equipped but one had wardrobes and shelves. Another room, though not properly arranged, contained tables and chairs for both pupils and members of staff.