A World Bank project worth N12 million has been attracted to the Community Comprehensive High School, Ikaram Akoko in Akoko North West Local Government Area of Ondo State by the school’s Old Students’ Association
This was disclosed on Sunday in Ikaram Akoko by the President of the Association, Barr. Olurotimi Williams-Daudu at the inauguration of renovated five classrooms’ block and foundation laying ceremony of the schools’ adminstrative building.
He said that the project entails construction of standard science laboratory for learning Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Agricultural Science.
The project, with the efforts of the old students, was achieved under the Ondo State Social and Community Development Scheme, which is a World Bank-assisted scheme and approved the project construction.
Williams-Daudu assured that the project would be complemented by a VIP toilet facility and motorised borehole to be reticulated far beyond the school for domestic use by the community.
He said the association had also embarked on a programme tagged “Train a child initiative”, where poor students (indigent) with bright academic prospects were indentified by the school principal and his team for sponsorship by willing members of the old students association.
He noted that whoever adopts a student under the initiative would be responsible for payment of school fees, provision of school uniform, sandals and books for such student.
The president later urged the state government to complement the association’s effort as they were also aware of dwindling resources.
In his words: “Prior to the intervention of the Old Students’ Association,the school had only four teachers. To ameliorate the problem, the association recruited ad-hoc teachers and corps members who are on our payroll.
“The state government responded positively by posting some teachers to the school. As of today, the school has attained UNESCO standard in terms of students/teachers ratio.”
At the inauguration of the five-classrooms block, Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who appreciated the effort of the old students, said the association is securing the future of the community and preventing insecurity.
Akeredolu, who was represented by the Special Adviser on Security Matters, Mr Adetunji Adeleye, said the gesture of the association would go a long way in solving most of the infrastructural problems at most of the citadels of knowledge in the state.
He lauded the “Adopt a child” initiative of the alumni association, saying,”it is a good development that the association has started as some of these indigent students could be the future leaders of the country.
”So if they are deprived, they might go astray and as such, beautiful dreams could die and I want to implore all to assist the indigent students.”
Akeredolu later adopted ten indigent students as other dignitaries present adopted several others from the list provided.
The Principal of the School, Mr Adebisi Adesina appreciated the leadership and the association at large for always giving back to the school in terms of academic and infrastructural development and welfare of the teachers of their old school.
