“We only have a functioning classroom. The other ones are either dilapidating or leaking water from the roof. Anytime they post any teacher here, they would repost themselves out of the school.”
By Toby TAIWO
Magboro, one of Ogun State’s closest communities to Lagos state, is fast becoming an urban set-up, yet only one primary School and one Primary Health Centre service thousands of people.
Located in Obafemi-Owode LGA of Ogun State, the region is considered one of the fastest growing communities in the state with a conservative population of over 100,000 according to City Population figures.
Due to its proximity to Lagos, and being the nearest to Arepo on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Magboro is growing by the day.
In spite of the quick growth, only one Community School serves the community. In addition, only one Primary Health Centre announces the presence of the state government.
The Magboro Community School also lacks the kind of funding needed to serve the teeming students.
According to a CDA member, who is also a member of the school governing board, Elder Mufu Ajakaye, the school lacks adequate classes and infrastructure.
“We only have a functioning classroom. The other ones are either dilapidating or leaking water from the roof. Anytime they post any teacher here, they would repost themselves out of the school.
“The result is that the school doesn’t have enough teachers.”
Students are seen roaming the school environment and streets during school hours.
“It has made many parents remove their wards from the school. The remaining ones stayed because they had no option. Either their parents could not afford private schools, or they have no parents to cater for them.”
The only PHC is also underfunded. It could only cater for minor ailments as there are between four nurses and a doctor on the ground.
While the nurses maintain shifts, the doctor is never on the ground due to overwork and fatigue.
For Magboro residents, they prefer to enroll their wards in private schools and take their sicklers to private hospitals.
The absence of government schools and hospitals is giving the private institutions the opportunity to make a killing in these essential fields of education and health.
For parents who could not afford the exorbitant rates of private schools and hospitals, they are left with sticking to the local and grossly inadequate institutions or taking their wards to Lagos institutions.
“This isn’t good enough for Ogun State. The current government has done well by fixing our roads, but there is still so much to do. We need good Schools both secondary and primary schools, and quality hospitals,” Elder Ajakaye added.
