L-R: Personal Assistant to Ekiti State Governor, Mr. O'seun Odewale; Governor Kayode Fayemi; Special Adviser, Buraeu of Special Projects, Mr. Bayo Kelekun; and Chairman, Ekiti State Teaching Service Commission, Chief Bayo Adeniran, during an inspection tour of on-going work of School Building under the State's Operation Renovate All Schools (ORASE), at Ola-Oluwa Muslim Grammer School, Ado-Ilawe Road... on Wednesday.
Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has commended the contractors handling the on-going renovation of the 100 public secondary schools across the 16 local government areas of the State for working towards making the deadline given by the state government.
The Governor gave the commendation in Ado Ekiti, shortly after inspecting the on going renovation work in 31 secondary schools spread across 8 local governments; saying that the pace at which the contractors are working on the buildings has shown their commitment to the vision of the state government to create a conducive learning environment for students before resumption in September.
Dr. Fayemi said the contractors have shown commitment to the vision of the state government even as some of them are renovating more than the number of buildings that were contracted out to them while some are building toilets with the structures to actualize the vision of the state government.
He expressed confidence that the projects would have been completed before schools resume since many of the buildings have been roofed while some are being plastered.
The Governor who said the renovation exercise was well planned so as not to disrupt academic activities assured that over 40,000 units of furniture would be delivered to all the 183 secondary schools in the state to usher in a new era of comfort for the students before resumption.
While justifying government’s decision to invest in schools, Fayemi said the quality of the learning environment is essential to the performance of the students because inconducive environment will hinder students’ concentration on the teaching and learning process.
He however stressed the need for teachers and principals to imbibe the culture of personal responsibility in the students so that they too can contribute to the maintenance of the new structures as soon as they are completed.
At Ilejemeje Community High School, Iye, the students who are on summer coaching trooped out to greet the Governor and expressed joy that their schools are being renovated but the Governor urged them to pay more attention to their studies.
The Governor said the beautification and maintenance culture is important so that government’s investment in the buildings would not amount to a waste of resources.
On the effect of planting trees near school buildings, Fayemi said that horticulturists would be contracted to work with school authorities and students so that they can help nurture and maintain trees and flowers within the premises of the schools.
He added that it was not acceptable to leave the trees unattended to in such a way that they do cause cracks on the foundation, walls and roofs of the buildings.
The Governor who also inspected the asphalting of Old Garage- Ikere dualized got the assurance of the contractor handling the road, Plycon, that a stretch of the road from Ijigbo to Mobil Ajilosun would be asphalted within four days while the portion from Ikere would also be asphalted during the weekend.
Speaking on the quality of roads and school renovation projects, Fayemi said there is an assurance that a new,decent and environmentally friendly Ekiti is possible as it would the vision of restoring the state as the fountain of knowledge would soon be a reality.
In his remarks, the Special Adviser in charge of Special Projects in the State, Mr. Bayo Kelekun said trees that were planted in some of the schools had caused serious damage to many of the structure but assured that the trees would be cut down while new ones would be planted in a manner that they wont be so close to the structures to damage them.
Kelekun added that the State Governor had directed that new examination halls be built for some schools which have dilapidated structures and these would be ready on school resumption in September.
It is recalled that 100 secondary schools were penciled down for renovation between July and September when the schools will resume, but upon the inspection yesterday, some new schools were added to the list on the orders of the Governor.
Last modified: August 15, 2012
