From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayem, has ordered the immediate relocation of a public Primary school at Ikun-Ekiti in Moba Local Government Area of the State from its present location at the Ero River valley to a safer site to curtail the incessant threat of flooding from the Ero River during rainy seasons.
The Chairman of the Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof. Femi Akinwumi who made this known during an on-the-spot assessment of the premises of the school and the new site at Ikun-Ekiti, noted that United Primary School, which was established in 1944 had been bedeviled by perennial flooding over the years.
Prof. Akinwumi explained that the governor’s decision to relocate the school is to guarantee the safety of both teachers and pupils of the school as well as to arrest the continued destruction of public property by flood.
Reiterating the commitment of the Fayemi-led administration to the welfare of people in the State, Akinwumi stressed that the administration places a high premium on the safety and security of pupils and teachers in the State.
The SUBEB Chairman said that Governor Fayemi also directed the speedy construction of additional classrooms at the school’s new site, adding that work would commence on the erection of the new buildings.
He lauded the support of people in the community for efforts of the State Government at providing a conducive environment for teaching and learning in the State, stressing that bringing the attention of government to the danger posed by the Ero River to the school’s old site as well as providing new site for the school are worthy of commendation.
In his remarks, the Onikun of Ikun-Ekiti, Oba Olatunde Akorewolu expressed appreciation to the Ekiti State Government for promptly responding to the community’s request.
He said that apart from providing six plots of land for the construction of the new school, the community would provide additional logistics support for SUBEB to ensure the early completion of the planned school buildings.
Oba Akorewolu also commended the Fayemi Administration for the ongoing rehabilitation works on the Ero Dam in the community and for resuscitating the Ikun Dairy farm almost 41 years after the project was conceived, adding that securing a reputable foreign technical partner for the project was ingenious and laudable.
Also speaking, the Ekiti SUBEB Permanent Secretary, Mr Oluwadare Ajayi, urged communities to emulate the Ikun Community by promptly informing Government when lives of the people and public infrastructure were under threat by natural and human activities.
