– Mr. Olukoga Olalere Adewale, Head-Teacher, Farm Settlement Community Primary School, Ikorodu.
When did you join the school as the Head Teacher?
I joined Farm Settlement Community Primary School, Odongunyan, Ikorodu as the Head-Teacher in 2011.
Can you tell us succinctly about the history of the school?
The school was established during Alhaji Lateef Jakande administration as the governor of Lagos State in 1978, when the settlers at Ikorodu needed a school for their children, mostly parents in the ministry of Agriculture in Ikorodu. In 1979, the school was moved to its permanent site, where it is till date.
For decades, the school has been in existence, is it only indigenes of Ikorodu that enrolled as pupils in the school?
In this school, we have various people from different state, cultures, languages with diverse norms and values that attends the school. The school is not only meant for Lagosians, but everybody from the 36 states of the federation. When activities commenced in the school in 1979 after moving to its permanent site, the population of the pupils was 114 with about 11 teachers then. But as at today, we have a population of about 1,386 pupils, with 33 teaching staff and 11 non teaching staff, making a total of 44 staff.
What is unique about the school since you enter the saddle as the Head-Teacher?
For now, the environment is unique due to the ambience and the new breath of life the school is enjoying presently, because before now, the teachers and the pupils performed excellently well in academic and sport activities, especially the spelling Bee competition which was introduced during the Bola Tinubu administration by his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the school came first in Ikorodu North Local Council Development Association. Then, the school represented the Ikorodu Local Government at the state level in which the school came second in 2013, but there wasn’t a condusive and enabling environment for the pupils and the teachers, not until Journalists for Democratic Rights, JODER, in partnership with Ford Foundation gave the school a facelift which has impacted the school tremendously on a positive note.
You said you came on board as the Head Teacher in 2011, how has the journey been so far?
We thank God that with the cooperation of the teachers, the non teaching staff and the pupils, the school has attained greater heights. We work as a team, family and there is no discrimination among ourselves regardless of our tribes. We work to achieve our goals. The vision and the mission of the school are followed strictly to the letter. This has made the school excel in all its endeavors.
Looking at the facelift been given to the school in terms of infrastructural development by JODER and Ford Foundation, what is your reaction to this?
It’s only God that can reward and show our gratitude and appreciation because the other time the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Lagos Province 1A built a toilet for us, we don’t know that it was just a tip of the iceberg, that a bigger one is coming from JODER and Ford Foundation. This is marvelous. It’s only God that can reward them for this upliftment given to the school. The office of the Head Teacher and the Assistant Head Teacher was renovated, the fence, the six classrooms, provision of 200 pupils furniture and also, the teachers were provided with chair and tables, infact its wonderful. We appreciate for selecting our school for this facelift among thousands of schools in the state. It’s an honour to us and we cherish it wholeheartedly.
How has the facelift impacted the school at the moment?
We thank God that on the aspect of security, we are more secured now that the school is fenced all round. You can leave your property in the school and pick it up the next day. It’s safe unlike before, it was an abode of hoodlums, miscreants. Even the parents appreciate the effort of JODER and Ford Foundation. Presently more parents want to enroll their wards into the school. Some people even believe it’s a private school, not knowing that it’s a government school that has been transformed by JODER and Ford Foundation.
How do you feel that the transformation and the facelift of the school is happening during your reign as the Head Teacher of the school?
I am delighted. Am the happiest man in Ikorodu presently because as the chairman of all the Head Teachers in Ikorodu, and when people come to my school and ask chairman how do you come about this, I will always tell them that it’s God, JODER and Ford Foundation. The facelift is exceptional, I can’t hide my joy. It’s God that directed JODER and Ford Foundation to pick our school because have never come across the two organizations, God just deemed it fit to make us a partaker of this largesse. We thank God and we really appreciate them. Like Oliver Twist, we are still on to them for more.
site