THE STATE OF INFRASTRUCTURE AT EBENEZER GRAMMAR SCHOOL, IJEDA, ORIADE LG.....By Arc. Desmond Ojo

My attention has been drawn to a video "and story masterminded by the opposition party" (sic) making the rounds on social media on the alleged poor state of Infrastructure at the Ebenezer Grammar School located in Ijeda Ijesa, Oriade Local Government. 

As a responsive lawmaker and a son of the soil, I visited the school to ascertain the actual state of Infrastructure and the visit was made in company of the Caretaker Chairman of Oriade LG, Hon. Olubunmi Obeisun; the Caretaker Councillor representing Ward 11 Ijeda/Iloko, Hon. Gbenga Awosolu; the immediate past Councillor representing Ward 11 Ijeda/Iloko Hon. Blessing Ademikore; the APC Chairman Ward 11 Ijeda/Iloko Chief Mofoluso Faloyo as well as other teeming Ijeda Indigenes and alumni of the school. 

I make bold to state that while the school indeed needs some aesthetic retouch, the viral video does not represent the true state of infrastructure in the school premises. The School boasts of a new, beautifully constructed UBE SUBEB Project 2014 Block of 9 Classrooms, Staffroom and Toilets just as the roof of the School Office Block was renovated recently by the outgone Councillor. This is a well as the re-roofing of the pioneer storey building school block was done via community efforts not too long ago. 

I agree there is a need to revamp some of the old buildings in the school such as the library and laboratory which have been standing since its establishment in the 1960s by Chief Faseun, the school is however not without other functional buildings that can cater for the current student and staff population as alluded to in the said video. It is safe to say the condition of the school was simply exaggerated on the video and we will only encourage positive information in line with our commitment towards the improvement of the lives of our people and communities in Oriade to fester such as the recent gracious approval of two Ijeda sons, amongst other sons and daughters of other towns, for 35 years pensionable employments into the State Teaching Service Commission by the Governor Gboyega Oyetola led APC Administration. 

We however call on all well meaning individuals as well as the old students of the school to continue to play their modest part towards putting the school back into proper shape as government alone can not do it all. Asides my personal commitments towards revamping the school and our own part as representatives of the people, we will continue to liaise with and engage the Ministry of Education as well as SUBEB to ensure improved infrastructure in terms of school buildings, water, electricity etc is made available to Ebenezer Grammar School, Ijeda and other schools in Oriade State Constituency.  

Thank you.

-Arc. Babatunde Desmond Ojo

Honourable Member,

Oriade State Constituency,

State of Osun House of Assembly.