The Rotary Club of Onigbongbo spent $7,000 (about N10.5 million) to renovate the toilets at Oshodi Model Primary School in Lagos State. It also constructed a water system for it.
Inaugurating the facility last Friday, the club’s outgoing President, Razaq Babatunde Salau, stated that while its project partner, the Rotary Club of Pleasanton, California, United States, contributed $5,800, his colleagues contributed the remainder.
He added that when they arrived for a needs assessment, the toilets were in disrepair, so the club repaired seven toilets for boys, eight for girls, and two for their teachers in a record time of one year.
He thanked Pleasanton Club for living up to its pledge to partner them on the reconstruction of the toilets under the Rotary International (RI) Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Programme, focal areas of Rotary International (RI), when they met at the West African Project Fair.
He stated that the teachers and students had been instructed to maintain the facilities and urged them to keep their promises. To help them, the club purchased cleaning supplies for them.
Yinka Adeosun, Assistant Governor of Rl District 9110, regarded the project as a ”landmark” and praised the two clubs for their achievements, stating that the DG is proud of them.
Mr. Mayowa Alakija, Executive Secretary of the Local Government Education Authority (LGEA), thanked Rotary for the initiative. Describing the step as something that will have an impact on the students, he stated that it is especially important because many people do not have access to good toilets and clean water, and that such or similar projects are appreciated because the government cannot do it alone.
Mrs. Titilayo Aderemi, the LGEA’s Head of Section, and her counterpart, Mrs. Risikat Omotuyi, both commended Rotary and suggested that the club reach out to more schools.
The Chairman of the Parents Forum (PF), John Ugbodaga, and the school’s Headmistress, Mrs. Fasiat Abdulwaheed, were also pleased with Rotary. In particular, Ugbodaga noted that when he sought parents’ support for the then unhealthy toilets, they turned him down. Now, his joy was full, he said.
Adeyemi Lawal, President-elect of the club; Sola Benson, Past Assistant Governor; Yinka Adeogun, Past President; Daniela Udenze, Secretary; Terrymore Odugbawa, Chairman of Service Projects; and Olateju Olutola, among others, attended the ceremony.
The students entertained the Rotarians and guests with songs.