In a heartening display of grassroots activism, residents of Ipokia Local Government Area in Ogun State have launched a crowdfunding initiative to repair the deteriorating Odepeta Methodist Primary School.
The campaign gained momentum after disturbing images of the school, located in a rural part of Ipokia, began circulating on social media. The photos revealed a structure in alarming disrepair with cracked walls, a roof barely intact, and windows and doors that had long succumbed to decay. Makeshift wooden supports could be seen propping up the building to prevent its collapse.
Moved by the state of the school, community member Adegbokiki Kamor took the lead on the initiative. In a Facebook post, Kamor pledged ₦50,000 to jumpstart the fundraising effort and called on others to join him in restoring the building.
“Although the responsibility for infrastructure lies with the government, the truth is that available resources are often spread too thin. Rather than wait endlessly, we must step in where we can,” Kamor wrote. “This school serves our children the future leaders. They deserve better.”
The campaign has since drawn support from other local figures. Joel Okeodebija, councillor representing Sango Ward in the neighboring Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area, also contributed ₦20,000 in solidarity.
Reactions to the school’s condition were swift and emotional. A resident, Pendosoji Gideon, expressed frustration over the broader state of infrastructure in the region. “You should see the state of things in Maun. It’s heartbreaking. Our children have no conducive environment to learn,” he said.
Attempts to reach the Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, for comment were unsuccessful as calls and messages went unanswered.
However, the Chairman of Ipokia Local Government, Johnson Akohomeh, acknowledged the widespread infrastructural challenges, attributing part of the problem to recent heavy rainfall. He noted that while rehabilitation efforts are underway across the LGA, resources are limited.
“We’re currently working on two new classroom blocks, and several existing structures are being renovated,” Akohomeh said. “We have over 95 schools in Ipokia, and it’s not possible to address all needs simultaneously. But we’re committed to tackling them step by step.”
He assured that the condition of Odepeta Methodist Primary School would be assessed for inclusion in upcoming renovation phases.
This isn’t the first time residents of Ipokia have voiced concerns over decaying public infrastructure. Only days earlier, locals criticized the poor state of the ICT center at the community’s secondary school a facility that had once promised to equip students with digital skills but now lies abandoned.
In the absence of immediate government action, the residents’ efforts reflect a growing trend of civic engagement where communities take development into their own hands one block, one donation at a time.
