Ooni of Ife’s NGO constructs free schools for seven Lagos communities
In a charitable move focused on improving access to education for disadvantaged children, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has opened a fully sponsored primary school in the Eyinogbe area of Adamo, Ikorodu, Lagos.
This project, carried out through his foundation, the HopesAlive Initiative (HAI), is intended to accommodate students from seven nearby communities. The tuition-free institution, which will operate from Primary 1 to 6, is set to feature up-to-date amenities including a sick bay, library, ICT hub, and a multipurpose event space—all housed in the same building.
The foundation-laying event, which took place over the weekend, drew traditional chiefs, local authorities, and education experts. Olori Temitope Enitan-Ogunwusi, who serves as the Deputy Convener of HAI, described the school project as spiritually inspired, sharing that the land had belonged to her family for 18 years before being redirected for charitable use.
“The land was acquired for me by my late mother, Mrs Adebisi Iyabosola Adesegun. Though it remained undeveloped for years, I now believe that delay was divine—meant to serve this greater purpose,” Olori Temitope said.
She gave credit to her husband, the Ooni of Ife, for consistently backing the initiative and guiding its purpose. “Kabiyesi’s support has been the backbone of everything we do at HAI. His goodwill opens doors and brings help to the initiative across Nigeria.”
This educational facility is modeled after another that will be established in Ile-Ife, the king’s hometown in Osun State. The building is scheduled to be completed in three months, with all needed materials already available.
Olori Temitope highlighted that the school is intended primarily for children living on the streets and those from financially disadvantaged families. Besides free academics, students will benefit from food, medical attention, and hands-on training in trades.
“This school is for the vulnerable, those who deserve a better future. We are committed to giving them not just education, but dignity and hope,” she said.
To maintain its operations long-term, the facility will include income-generating additions like an event hall, which will be accessible to residents in the area. The ICT facility, developed in partnership with the federal government, will double as a JAMB testing site.
The school will be overseen by a formal Board of Management and will function as an affiliate study centre for Ojaja University, offering certificate programmes and part-time academic options for learners in the area.
Notable preacher Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, who officiated the groundbreaking and blessed the location, applauded the king’s efforts in charitable work beyond his immediate kingdom. “This is a clear signal that the Ooni of Ife is a global figure with a heart for service,” he said.
Other traditional authorities present voiced similar approval. The Baale of Eyinogbe, Taiwo Olowo, expressed his community’s appreciation to the royal family, observing that the educational project would lead to progress in the locality.
Oba Adebowale Adekunle, the Agbolu of Agbaje Ife, praised Olori Temitope’s ongoing commitment to helping society, saying she embodies the values of the king.
Additional high-ranking figures at the occasion included Oba Fayemi Johnson Olumuyiwa, the Elerefe of Erefe Ife, and Oba Adedire Adewole Solomon, the Onifegunwa of Ifegunwa, Ile-Ife.
