In a bid to promote cordial relationship with its host communities, Nigerdock, an oil and gas industry service provider, on Wednesday, handed over N1.5 billion worth of educational facilities to Igbologun community, Amuwo Odofin Local government, Lagos State.
LEADERSHIP reports that the facilities handed over to the community are blocks of class rooms, computer, Biology, physics and Chemistry laboratories, Corp members lodge, Library, Police post and one and half kilometres of tarred road among others.
However, speaking at the handing over ceremony held at the Igbologun Community Lagos, the chairman/chief executive officer, Nigerdock, Maher Jamakani, said that the world class facilities donated to the community will help improve the lives of the people of the community.
Jamakani disclosed that the school has a capacity for 800 students adding that the school will also be provided with non-stop power supply even as he explained that the community has been connected to Eko Distribution Company for a 24-hour power supply.
“This school has capacity to contain 800 students and we will be providing all the power and support for the school going forward and the support will also get to all the communities here at Igbologun and neighbouring communities.
“These projects have cost Nigerdock N1.5 billion and the projects include a new police station which we just built which we are commissioning later today. We built a new road measuring about one and half kilometre, which will connect the community to the waterfront and two school buses.
“The power supply is a new facility that we have already connected to the Eko Distribution Company following a request from the community. This will definitely be a game changer and a big milestone for the educational advancement of the youths of the communities here and these facilities are of world class standard and those recommended by Lagos State. They will ensure that students get real education in the area of sciences, Mathematics, Social Studies,” Jamakani stated.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Basic Education and Secondary Education, Tolani Alli-Balogun commended Nigerdock for its multi-billion naira investment in the State’s education sector.
According to him, Snake Island integrated Free Zone has keyed into the actualization of the State government effort to ensure no child is left behind in the quest for quality learning.
The Lagos commissioner, however, stated that the facilities provided by Nigerdock to the community will make students excel.
“The hope you have given to the parents, the students and communities through these schools will be enough to make them excel in their educational pursuits. It is an undisputed fact that if we must actualise our Lagos Rising vision, quality education must remain one of our most solid building blocks. Nigerdock within the Snake Island integrated Free Zone has keyed into the actualization of the State Government effort to ensure no child is left behind in the quest for quality learning.”
“Our investment has continued to yield positive results and our students’ performance in local and international examinations have improved. We can’t wait to see you to be global leaders. I challenge you to study hard and justify the investment of Nigerdock and Lagos State in your education. The Lagos State government will maintain the facilities and I challenge teachers, community, students to take charge and they should ensure that miscreants didn’t cart away the facilities provided, ” the commissioner said.
Speaking earlier, the permanent secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Abolaji Abayomi, charged the community to take charge of the maintenance of the infrastructure.
Abayomi stated that the building of the infrastructure has shown the level of cooperation and understanding between the community and Nigerdock.
“The relationship between the community and Nigerdock should continue to be stronger. We shouldn’t allow the fifth columnist to fan the ember of discord among us. Also, the community must ensure that they keep the facility neat, and don’t destroy it. The students must make use of the facility well because we want to come back in a few years time to see that your performance has gone up and to the teachers, we want you to know that the government is interested in your welfare,” the PS stated.
