Forty neatly arranged ceramic tiles now serve as a makeshift whiteboard for pupils of St. John’s Anglican Primary School, Ebute-Igbooro, an agrarian community in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The tiled board, divided into three sections with a green marker, list the subjects Mathematics, English Studies, and Basic Technology. Though the date on it reads September 30, 2025, its appearance reflects decades of neglect
The school, which accommodates about 242 pupils from surrounding villages, consists of seven classrooms — a yellow-and-green painted three-block structure on the right and an unpainted, cracked four-block building on the left. DAILY POST observed that St. John’s Anglican Primary School, established in 1955, also has an uncompleted classroom and several dilapidated structures with palm-frond ceilings. Ebute-Igbooro, the host community, is a 150-year-old border settlement between Nigeria and the Benin Republic.
Founded in 1875, the community with its residents speaking the Yoruba Ketu dialect has its major occupation as farming, while the women supplement the household income by producing fufu, garri, and engaging in other petty trades.
Despite existing for 150 years, the community’s severe neglect and the harsh effects of economic hardship are starkly evident in some of its barefoot school children, who lacked uniforms, textbooks, and even school bags.
A local resident, who spoke under anonymity within St. John’s Anglican School, appealed for the renovation of classrooms and abandoned structures. He disclosed that although the school has a well, students still lack access to potable water.
“We need drinkable water. We have a well, but if someone can provide boreholes and if the school can be fenced, it will be appreciated. That way, hoodlums won’t have access to destroy our classrooms and offices,” he said.
During a visit to another school in the community, it was observed that pupils of Yewa North Local Government Primary School, formerly known as Egbado North Primary School, still practice open defecation.
The school has about 210 pupils and is presently constructing two toilets, which are said to be for the teachers.
When asked where the pupils go for convenience, a source within the school simply replied, “the bush.”
The source added, “They are just erecting two toilets, but I believe they are for the teachers, so we need another toilet for our pupils. They are also drilling a borehole right now, but we don’t need that. What we need are computers and philanthropists who will help us renovate all our buildings and provide fences.”
The Classrooms Were Built by Colonial Masters 100 Years Ago Alumni
The State Chairman of the Association of Senior Civil Servants, and an alumnus of the school, Issa Olude, told DAILY POST that the school buildings, which are over 100 years old, were constructed by the colonial masters.
“Let me say that those buildings you are looking at are over 100 years old. They were constructed by the colonial masters, and that’s why you see them in this condition. But you can see that modern buildings are now springing up in the school,” he said.
Olude maintained that whatever he is today is a result of the foundation laid by the school. He thanked the government, through the member representing Yewa North Constituency II at the State House of Assembly, Haruna Wahab Egungbohun, for providing new buildings and supporting the growth of the school.
We Need More Schools, Health Centres, and Jobs Residents Cry Out
Speaking to a resident identified as Ademola Muyinat, she appealed to the government to construct more schools and renovate the existing ones, saying that what they have at the moment is not enough to accommodate their children.
The 41-year-old mother of four lamented the economic hardship faced by members of the community, adding that they also lack a primary healthcare centre and depend on the general hospital, which itself has no beds or toilets.
“The schools here are not enough for the town; we need more schools, and the ones we have need to be reconstructed. They don’t even have toilets. I have two kids who don’t even have school sandals, and my twins are yet to start schooling. We also need the government to repair our general hospital; the centre needs to be enlarged the hospital needs beds and toilets,” she said.
Similarly, Kabirat Bunmi decried the constant neglect, disclosing that to survive and take care of their families, many residents make garri, buy tomatoes, and take them to Lagos to sell, since the community does not even have a market.
She told DAILY POST that the community also depends on rivers and wells for water, begging the government to provide potable and healthy water.
Her words: “We have to survive. We make garri, buy tomatoes and take them to Lagos to sell, but we also need Lagos people to come to our town to buy from us. That’s what we want. We need a market. When it comes to water, we depend on our wells and rivers; we don’t have tap water. We would also love to have a water company around us.”
Our correspondent learnt that some of the youths in the community also engage in fishing and motorcycle riding to feed and support their families.
The Olori Odo (head of youths) of the land, Emmanuel Akeem, begged the state government and other well-meaning individuals to help provide banks, as residents currently travel to Ilaro for all banking transactions.
Akeem also called for the reconstruction of the old road leading to Oja Odan and the establishment of factories or companies where youths can work.
He said, “They should give us companies that will provide jobs. We need a bank; we don’t have any in this area. When you want to save money, you have to go to Ilaro, and our road is bad. They should repair the old road leading to Oja Odan.”
He disclosed that while the community once had a general hospital, it has now collapsed and lacks a primary healthcare centre.
“We have a general hospital, but it has collapsed. Please, we need the government to help us repair it and provide beds for patients who will be visiting,” he appealed.
Give Us Development That Will Favour Our Children and Coming Generations – Monarch Tells Government
The Elebute of Ebute-Igbooro Kingdom, His Royal Highness Oba Amusa Adetunji Dosunmu (Isolo I), urged the state government to look into the plight of his kingdom, lamenting that despite its long existence, the town is still lagging behind in development.
Oba Dosunmu, who was the 15th Baale elevated and given the staff of office as the first monarch of the town in December 2018, thanked the government for what it has done so far but listed areas still lacking attention.
He said, “What we need in this town are many things we want development that will favour our children and the next generation. In this town, we want a market where we can buy and sell without issues. We also need the governor to help us renovate the schools in the town and our town hall. We need banks around us and a tiled road that will link the town to the city.
“We thank God for the government and how far they’ve gone in developing this town, but we also want firms that will employ our youths,” he concluded.
When contacted, the State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, told DAILY POST that he was unable to confirm the state of the schools at the moment but promised to get back.
His words: “Unfortunately, I cannot confirm from here because I’m not in the office. But if you just send me the details of the schools, I’ll be able to get you information concerning what we are probably doing or maybe our action plan.”
Our correspondent promptly forwarded the school’s details to the commissioner via WhatsApp as requested, but as of the time of filing this report, no response had been received.
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