Residents Launch Crowdfunding Campaign to Rehabilitate Dilapidated Ogun School

Concerned residents of Ipokia, Ogun State, have initiated a crowdfunding campaign to renovate the crumbling Odepeta Methodist Primary School, following the circulation of distressing images of the school on social media.

Photos shared online on Monday revealed a severely deteriorated structure—walls cracked and held up by wooden supports, and windows, roofs, and doors visibly damaged or missing. The images sparked swift reactions from members of the public.

Leading the campaign is Facebook user Adegbokiki Kamor, who donated ₦50,000 to kick-start the renovation efforts. In his post, Kamor called for public support, acknowledging that while it is the government’s responsibility to provide educational infrastructure, current resource constraints make community involvement necessary.

“In as much as I believe our government should provide necessary infrastructure, especially in basic education, the reality is that resources are limited. When I saw these images, I thought about how we, the public, can come together to provide a better learning environment for our children in Ipokia,” Kamor said.

He also commended the efforts of the Ipokia Local Government Chairman, Johnson Akohomeh, for ongoing efforts to improve local infrastructure.

Joining the initiative, Joel Okeodebija, Councillor representing Sango Ward in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government, pledged ₦20,000.

“Thank you, leader and Baba Barakat Adegbokiki Kamor. I will support with ₦20,000,” he wrote.

Another resident, Pendosoji Gideon, expressed frustration over the widespread neglect of public infrastructure in the area.

“If you come to my area at Maun, you’d be disheartened. There are no classrooms, not to talk of a conducive learning environment,” he lamented.

Efforts to reach the Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Abayomi Arigbabuwo, were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to phone calls or WhatsApp messages.

However, in a statement, Ipokia Local Government Chairman, Johnson Akohomeh, acknowledged the challenges, citing damage caused by heavy rainfall earlier in the year.

He said the local government had begun renovating some schools and constructing new ones.

“We have over 95 schools in Ipokia. While we can’t attend to all at once, we are currently constructing a block of three classrooms and renovating another block of two.

Additional projects are being prioritized based on recommendations from the education authority,” Akohomeh said.

He added that Odepeta Methodist Primary School would be assessed for inclusion in future rehabilitation projects.

This development follows recent complaints by residents over the poor state of the community’s ICT center, initially intended to equip students with digital skills but now left in disrepair.