Rotary Club of Agbara (District 9110 of Nigeria) has renovated a school building at the Agbara Grammar School in Ogun State as part of its effort to enhance educational opportunities for underprivileged communities.
The president of the club, Joshua Cole, said the renovation of one of the school buildings which cost over N30m, was to amplify educational access and quality for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Speaking at the inauguration of the three-block of classrooms at the Agbara Grammar school and a renovated primary health centre at Igbesa on Wednesday, Cole said the deteriorating and abandoned state of the school’s building prompted the club to embark on the renovation.
He added that the club mobilised resources and expertise to undertake comprehensive repairs, including changing the roof, replacing doors and windows, and installing a ceiling.
He explained, “Three years ago as director of projects, I was moving around the communities looking for projects we could do in that rotary year. Somehow fate brought me to this school.
When I got here, I saw this building behind me in a very deplorable state. It was close to having just a carcass building and students were learning there.
“So, what we did was to discuss with the school management if they wanted our support to renovate it. And of course, they said yes, we had to do the writing by going to the commissioner for education who gave us approval to go ahead and do the renovation works. I went back to the club, and told them my intentions alongside my board, and they approved it.
“When we came in here, we had a budget of about N9.5 million. We were thinking it was going to be just a small one, but not knowing that there were no pillars, no beams, you know, the roof was in a very terrible state, so we had to take off the roof. We reinforced the building by bringing more and introducing more pillars. We brought in beams. And that cost us over 30 million.
“When we started, the economy was good. When we started, cement was still about five thousand naira. But halfway into the project, the cost of cement went high to about ten thousand naira.
The cost of granite went so high. So if you have to put all that together, of course, manpower, and labour, it was a very strong one for us to manage, but we’re able to get it done.”
Cole, however, said the renovation of the school building was to provide a conducive environment for learning and growth.
He said the club also renovated the primary health centre in Igbesa to be able to provide qualitative healthcare to the people.
He reaffirmed the club’s commitment to empowering future generations and fostering positive change at the local level.
On her part, the District Governor of Rotary District 9110, Ifeyinwa Ejezie said the club remains steadfast in its mission to address pressing societal challenges.
She stressed Rotary’s dedication to the eight areas of focus, including basic education and literacy, health, and environmental sustainability.
She added that the club created a Rotary Community corp to look after projects and ensure they are well sustained and maintained.
“We are here to commission this large three block of classrooms and also commission the Igbesa health centre. All these we are doing is because we appreciate the fact that the government cannot do it alone and that Nigeria is a large country with over 200 million population.
“Government cannot do it alone. That’s why we join hands with the government in doing good around the world and touching our communities.
“Our theme for this rotary year is to create hope in the world. And how better to create hope in the world than what we are witnessing here today?
“This is what rotary is known for. We create hope all over the world, not just in Nigeria. Because Rotary is the largest and the biggest NGO you have in the whole world. And we have a presence in over 200 countries in the world. So in these 200 countries in the world, all we do is do good in the world. And that is why we are here today,” she stated.
Earlier in her remarks, the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele commended the club for assisting the government in the area of education and health.
Represented by the vice chairman of Ado-Odo Ota Local Government Area Council, Sadat Animashaun, the Deputy Governor promised that the government would ensure the renovated facilities are well managed and put to use.
