OGBOJA GRAMMAR SCHOOL AND LAJORUN HIGH SCHOOL: MODEL SCHOOLS CRYING FOR HELP

BY: Prince Tayo Akinyemi

Education advocate, Prince Tayo Akinyemi, has raised alarm over the deplorable state of Ogboja Grammar School, Pako, and Lajorun High School, Igboora, describing the once-model institutions as “schools crying for help” after decades of neglect by the Oyo State Government and relevant authorities.

In 1979, late Chief Adewole Ojo, the then Member representing Ibarapa Constituency II in the old Oyo State, influenced a bill for the establishment of Ogboja Grammar School, Pako; Lajorun High School, Igboora; and Lasogba High School, Idofin. These schools were formally founded in 1980 and were once well-equipped with quality teaching, research, and sporting facilities.

However, the dream of the founding fathers has faded due to total neglect by the Oyo State Government, political leaders, and the Teaching Service Commission. In 2019, Television Continental (TVC) featured Ogboja Grammar School, highlighting its decaying infrastructure. Unfortunately, no meaningful support has been recorded from either the government or well-meaning individuals.

The school currently lack essential facilities, including laboratories, libraries, and conducive teaching environments.Enrollment of Students by the relevant authorities became worrisome on yearly basis.

I visited Lajorun High School, Igboora in anticipation of meeting a well modelled secondary school. To my dismay, I had to park my car 2 kilometers away from the school as the link road is so poor. I have to cross a shallow river before I finally got to the school premises. I asked the teachers and students; Alas! They were already used to the ugly condition.

I grew up to know these schools well equiped with qualitative teaching, research and sporting facilities. Painfully, the dream of the founding fathers has faded and nearly going into extinction as results of total neglect of the Oyo State Government, Political leaders and the Teaching Service Commission, Oyo State.

A clarion call to the Oyo State Government and our political office holders to salvage these secondary schools from total collapse.

History already written in Gold names of the facilitators of these heritages, our current political dispensation should equally work out modalities of saving the future of these schools.

It is imperative that attention is given to these institutions to restore their former glory.

Prince Tayo Akinyemi
3/10/2025