Expanding Public Primary and Secondary Education in Ilaro-Yewa

Opinion:

BY SELE AKINBOBOYE

I wish to use this platform as a means to implore the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and, by extension, all leaders in Nigeria, to allocate resources towards the construction of additional public schools catering to the educational needs of underprivileged children at the primary and secondary school levels.

For illustrative purposes, let us consider the town of Ilaro-Yewa in Ogun State. If one were to stand at the Itolu junction of the town at 2:00 pm, they would witness a steady stream of students emerging from Itolu Community Secondary School, Ilaro-Yewa. The sheer number of students leaving the school would undoubtedly leave anyone astounded.

Over course of the past 43 years that I have resided in Ilaro-Yewa, it appears that the state government has scarcely erected more than a single secondary school in Ilaro town, and this may be limited to Itolu Community Secondary School, Ilaro-Yewa. Regrettably, not a single primary school has been established despite the continuously increasing population.

The population of Ilaro’s residents has seemingly multiplied a thousandfold between 1980 and 2023, yet this growth has not been accompanied by a proportional increase in schools and essential infrastructure.

One cannot help but question how government funds are being utilized on an annual basis.

I would also like to take this opportunity to earnestly appeal to the government of Ogun State to substantially augment the number of public primary and secondary schools within the Ilaro-Yewa metropolis.

       *Engr. Sele Akinboboye writes in from Ilaro-Yewa, Ogun State.