From Ebohon Joan
After decades of deterioration and vandalism left pupils studying on bare floors, hope has returned to Ozolua Primary School in Egun community, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, following a major intervention by Yongxing Steel Company Nigeria Limited.
The school, established in 1955, is the only primary school serving Egun and neighbouring communities. Over the years, its facilities deteriorated significantly, with scavengers vandalising the buildings and removing windows, doors and other iron fittings.
The school had earlier received an additional block during the administration of former Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, under his Red Roof Revolution programme. However, the buildings were subsequently vandalised, leaving the school in a deplorable condition.
With inadequate furniture, many pupils were forced to sit and learn on bare floors, while the few available chairs and tables were provided through contributions from members of the community.
Following repeated appeals from the school management and community members, Yongxing Steel Company Nigeria Limited, which operates in the area, intervened as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility programme.
The company renovated the school buildings, provided new tables and chairs, installed a borehole and water facilities, supplied a generator and carried out other improvements aimed at creating a more conducive learning environment.
Speaking during the handover of the refurbished school, a representative of the company, Hazel Han, said Yongxing Steel was pleased to contribute to the development of the community.
She also announced an educational support package of N1 million for 20 outstanding pupils, with each beneficiary receiving N50,000.
Han said the intervention was not merely about renovating a building but about investing in the future of the children.
“Today is not simply about unveiling a renovated school building, it is about investing in the future of our children.
“Yongxing Steel Company firmly believes that education is one of the most powerful tools for transforming individuals, communities, and society. We therefore consider it a privilege to contribute, in our own little way, to creating a better learning environment for the children of Egun community.”
She said the company had provided a borehole and water facilities, replaced doors, repainted and beautified classrooms, supplied new chairs and other school furniture, and provided books, writing materials and other educational amenities.
“We are particularly happy that the children, who are the ultimate beneficiaries of this project, will now have a more pleasant environment in which to learn, grow, and develop their talents,” she said.
According to her, the N50,000 educational support for each of the 20 pupils was intended to encourage them to take their education seriously.
“We believe that this gesture will provide encouragement to these pupils and remind them that their education, dreams, and future matter to us.”
Han urged the beneficiaries to study hard, respect their teachers and parents, remain disciplined and believe in themselves.
She also called on teachers to continue giving their best, while urging parents and guardians to remain actively involved in their children’s education.
“The responsibility for raising responsible and successful children belongs to all of us;parents, teachers, government, communities, and corporate organisations,” she said.
Han reaffirmed the company’s commitment to responsible corporate citizenship and supporting initiatives that improve the lives of people in communities where it operates.
The head teacher of the school, Roseline Olayinka, expressed appreciation to the company for responding to the school’s repeated appeals for assistance.
Olayinka said that when she was posted to the school, it had only about 35 pupils and lacked basic facilities.
“When I was posted to this school, I was having about 35 pupils. I started writing, I wrote to them severally, pleading that they should come and help me with chairs and renovate the school,” she said.
She explained that after her initial appeals received no response, she involved members of the community in subsequent efforts to seek assistance.
“Today, I am overwhelmed and I thank the management of the company. The school is very fine now.”
She also expressed appreciation to the Edo State Government and the Commissioner for Education, Washington Osifo, for their support.
According to the head teacher, the school now has a security arrangement to protect the facilities, while the renovated classrooms have made it possible to safely keep books and other learning materials on the premises.
The Edo State Commissioner for Education, Washington Osifo, represented at the event by the Chief Inspector of Education for Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, Mrs Omono Ogbebor, commended Yongxing Steel Company for the intervention.
He described education as the foundation for national development and said the renovated facility would provide a better environment for pupils to learn.
“Education is the bedrock of any nation. We are here to commission a vision that will manifest tomorrow. What we have here today will produce leaders of tomorrow,” he said.
He added that the intervention was consistent with the state government’s stated objective of providing a conducive learning environment for children.
The Okaighele (Youth Leader) of Egun community, Nosa Afiamagbon, also expressed gratitude to the company for coming to the community’s aid.
Afiamagbon recalled that the school, founded in 1955, had benefited from the construction of two blocks during the Oshiomhole administration, but the facilities were later vandalised.
“After the rebuilding by the then Governor Oshiomhole, there were no chairs. We donated money to do chairs and at a point, we wrote several times to the authorities but they did not respond,” he said.
According to him, the community also approached other organisations and institutions for assistance before Yongxing Steel Company eventually responded.
“It is only this Chinese company that came to our rescue to rebuild the school and supply chairs and tables,” he said.
The intervention has therefore given pupils and teachers at Ozolua Primary School a refurbished learning environment, while the community hopes the facilities will be properly maintained and protected from further vandalism.
