By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives aspirant for Agege Local Government and former Chairman of the local government, Honourable Ganiyu Egunjobi, intensified investments in education through wide-ranging interventions spanning infrastructure, student welfare, and skills development, positioning the council as a key driver of grassroots learning advancement during his tenure.
These efforts, implemented across public primary and secondary schools within Agege in recent years, reflected a deliberate strategy to improve access to quality education, ease the burden on indigent families, and equip young people with practical skills.
From large-scale distribution of learning materials to the construction and rehabilitation of school facilities, the Egunjobi administration focused on both immediate student needs and long-term capacity building.
Notably, the council sustained regular distribution of school uniforms, bags, and writing materials to pupils, alongside the provision of desks and chairs to enhance the learning environment.
In addition, over 600,000 exercise books were distributed, a move officials say was aimed at ensuring that “no child is left without the basic tools required for learning.”
Furthermore, in a bid to address transportation challenges faced by students, the administration introduced four 36-seater coaster buses under a “Free School Ride” initiative, designed to convey pupils to and from school safely and at no cost.
On infrastructure, the council undertook the construction of a block of six classrooms at Salvation Army Primary School, Dopemu, as well as another six-classroom block with toilet facilities at CAC Primary School.
Similarly, renovation works were carried out on blocks of six classrooms at Oduduwa Primary School and State Primary School, Iloro, including the refurbishment of toilet facilities at the latter.
Broader rehabilitation efforts saw the upgrading of seven classroom blocks across CAC, Darocha, and Ajegunle schools, alongside the installation of metal handrails at State Primary School to improve safety for pupils.
In response to the growing importance of digital literacy, the administration also constructed a Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre at Iloro and an e-library centre within the legislative building, thereby expanding access to technology-driven learning resources.
Equally significant is the upgrading of the council’s Vocational and Skill Acquisition Centre, which has produced over 5,000 graduates. Each beneficiary was equipped with the necessary tools to practise in their chosen trades, a step described as critical to reducing youth unemployment and promoting self-reliance.
In the area of educational support, more than 1,500 scholarships were awarded to indigent but academically sound students, while over 13,000 GCE and JAMB forms were procured for candidates preparing for external examinations.
Officials within the administration maintained that these interventions were driven by a commitment to inclusive education and sustainable development. As one official put it, the goal is to “remove barriers to learning while empowering students with the resources and opportunities needed to succeed.”
Ultimately, the Egunjobi-led administration’s education initiatives underscore a broader vision of combining infrastructure, welfare, and skills development to strengthen the foundation of learning in Agege and prepare students for future challenges.
