Church reconstructs Oluyole schools, donates borehole, furniture

From Taiwo Oluwadare, Ibadan

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has presented a comprehensive package of infrastructural and educational support projects to Oluyole Local Government Council (OLGC) Primary Schools One and Two, Odo-Ona Elewe, Ibadan, Oyo State, benefiting an estimated 394 pupils and teachers.

The projects include reconstruction of OLGC Primary School 1 Block B with offices and a library, construction of drainage facilities, renovation of Blocks A, B and C of OLGC Primary School 2, renovation of a four-seater toilet, construction of a 10-seater toilet and installation of a solar-powered borehole with a 10,000-litre tank.

The church also donated 240 students’ desks, 20 teachers’ chairs, 19 teachers’ tables, six tables and 36 chairs for the library, two double-faced bookshelves, as well as books to stock the new library.

Chairman, Oluyole LG, Akeem Olatunji, said: “This is a memorable and remarkable event because the whole primary school has been turned new with the construction of new buildings and renovation of existing ones. Beyond physical structures, provision of furniture for both pupils and teachers, as well as a functional library facility, would significantly enhance learning outcomes.

“The school is also having a facility for a library, courtesy of the Church of Latter-day Saints. We are also having a standard borehole with about a 10,000-litre tank facility, which is enough to take care of this school and even the surrounding community.

“Primary education is under the purview of the local government. We are doing our best, but we have a lot of schools that need attention. With what the Latter-day Saints have done today, they have shown they are an organisation set up for the betterment of society.

“The facilities will be maintained in collaboration with the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and other stakeholders. We will provide security and take inventory of all items donated from books in the library to chairs and desks to ensure nothing is stolen. They should rest assured that these facilities are in safe hands.”

Elder Olayinka Ayodeji Ojediran, representative of the church, said: “As followers of Jesus Christ, one of His greatest teachings is that children should be cared for. Education is the foundation for a bright future. Part of our humanitarian services as a church is to support education, health and nutrition.

“The goal of the project is to provide a conducive environment where children could learn, build their future, positively influence their communities and contribute to national development. Government should increase budgetary allocation to education and create enabling environment for partnerships.

“If government can provide a conducive environment for collaborators, including faith-based organisations like ours, to work together, we can achieve qualitative education faster. These projects are huge, and if government alone wants to do everything, it may take a long time.

“We executed similar projects in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Abeokuta and Abuja. More interventions are planned, including support for immigration services.

“This is not the first, and it will not be the last. We don’t invest this quantum of money and turn our backs. We will continue to partner with the school, SUBEB and the local government to ensure proper monitoring and maintenance.”

***Also speaking, Tawakalit Abiodun Adelabu, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, who represented the Chairman of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Nureni Adeniran, described the intervention as laudable and impactful.

“This is a fantastic and laudable project that involves big money. They have done a lot for us, the library, books, chairs, borehole and many other things. It has created a conducive learning environment for the pupils,” she said.

Adelabu assured that the School-Based Management Committee (SBMC) and SUBEB would monitor and maintain the facilities to ensure sustainability.

“When children see this kind of environment, they will be more eager to come to school. We will ensure everything they have provided is well taken care of,” she added.

In her address, the Headmistress of School One, Mrs. Christiana Iyabo Oladipupo, expressed profound gratitude to the church and the Oyo State Government, noting that the project represents hope, growth and opportunity for both teachers and learners.

“Today, we celebrate the handover of a project that represents hope, growth and opportunity. This will not only serve as a place for learning but also a place where dreams are nurtured and young minds are inspired,” she said.

She commended the church for its generosity and partnership in advancing education in Oyo State, noting that the legacy of the intervention would resonate for years to come.

Oladipupo, however, appealed to the state government and relevant authorities to assist the school with perimeter fencing to prevent hoodlums from vandalising facilities after school hours.

“If we can have a fence around the school, we will be very happy because hoodlums have been disturbing us and damaging our property,” she said.

The event drew community members, education stakeholders and church representatives, all of whom lauded the collaboration as a model for public-private partnership in strengthening basic education in Oyo State.