IBRAHIM QUADRI
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday inaugurated 36 regenerated schools including 19 football pitches in Ajegunle, Lagos, constructed by the State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration.
The commissioning of the Tolu Schools Complex represents the largest school in sub- Sahara Africa at a single location, according to the state government.
Also, the President who was represented by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, unveiled Abijo Food Hub, Ajah, Ibeju-Lekki Expressway, virtually.
The second day commisioning came after the inauguration of three projects on Wednesday: Ojota-Opebi Link Bridge, Lagos State electronic Geographical Information System (eGIS) Building and Lagos State Multi-Agency Building.
Dignitaries present at the Thursday’s event included, Deputy Governor of Sokoto, Muhammad Gobir, Deputy Governor of Plateau, Josephine Piyo, the minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole among others.
Tinubu said, “The remarkable scale and significance of the Tolu school complex comprising tens of thousands of students within a single environment is truly exceptional.
“The successful regeneration of such a large and complex educational system is highly commendable. This reflects vision, planning, and a very clear commitment to improving the lives of our young citizens.”
While commending the Governor, Tinubu noted that delivering a project of this magnitude demonstrated what is possible ‘when leadership is bold and focused.’
“We must continue to invest in education, not just as a social service, but as a driver of economic growth and national development. We equip our children with knowledge and skills.
“We prepare them to contribute meaningfully to society and to compete in a changing world like ours is,” the President added.
The President explained that through his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, “we are committed to ensuring that every child has access to quality learning, that our schools equip students with practical skills, that our young people are prepared to compete and thrive in a modern economy.
“By strengthening human capital development, we are building a workforce capable of driving innovation, creating jobs, and sustaining national growth. This is how we turn opportunities into progress and potentials into prosperity for all Nigeria.”
The President reiterated that Projects like this show what is possible when leadership is very focused and deliberate.
“As a nation, we must build on efforts like this by ensuring that our schools produce thinkers, problem solvers, and innovators, the people who will drive our tomorrow for the sustenance of our nation, Nigeria.
“To our dear students, Nigeria is counting on our young generation. I want this moment to serve as a clear reminder that when we invest in our people, we invest in the strength and progress of not just Lagos, but our dear country, Nigeria because no nation can rise above the quality of its human capital.
“When we give our young people access to good education, the right skills and supportive environment, we are preparing them, not just for today, but for the future that we all desire.”
In his address, Sanwo-Olu said, “Your presence here today, Mr. President, as you commission the fruits of a vision you helped plant, is a powerful reminder that leadership is a continuum, that good governance builds upon itself, and that when leaders at every level work together, the impossible becomes achievable.
“We have transformed the Tolu Schools Complex into the largest integrated educational community in West Africa – a “school city” that now comprises 36 schools: 5 primary schools, 15 junior secondary schools, and 16 senior secondary schools, providing a complete educational ladder from foundation to the threshold of higher learning.
“To tackle overcrowding and create a more conducive learning environment, we have delivered 12 new classroom blocks, each containing 18 classrooms. In addition, 24 existing school buildings have been comprehensively rehabilitated, restoring them into safe, habitable and inspiring spaces for teaching and learning.
“But we did not stop at classrooms, because education today must do more than prepare children to pass examinations. It must prepare them to thrive in a changing world. That is why we have built a four-storey vocational and skills acquisition centre with dedicated workshops — a facility deliberately designed to bridge the gap between academic instruction and practical competence. We want our young people to leave school not only with certificates, but with capability. Not only with ambition, but with employable and entrepreneurial skills.
“We also have a Central Laboratory and ICT Complex that signals the future we see for Lagos. Within this hub are dedicated Physics, Chemistry and Biology laboratories, each able to accommodate 200 students at a time, creating room for scale, experimentation and serious scientific learning. There is also a state-of-the-art ICT and Robotics hub, where students will be able to receive scheduled specialist training and develop the digital fluency that this century demands.
“This matters greatly to us, because the world our children are growing into will reward not only literacy and knowledge, but adaptability and innovation.”
He added Flagship Special Needs School specifically designed for learners with special needs was also constructed as a way of visionary initiative.
Sanwo-Olu noted, “In this same vein, we have also invested heavily in sports infrastructure including a standard AstroTurf football pitch, a tartan athletics track, multipurpose courts, and spectator bleachers, with provisions for javelin, long jump, and high jump—because Ajegunle has always been a cradle of athletic champions and a community of talent, grit and extraordinary human energy.”
Speaking to the parents, Sanwo-Olu said, “I know what this community has endured. I know the sacrifices you have made to keep your children in school, sometimes walking them through floodwater just to reach their classrooms. I know the sleepless nights, the quiet prayers, the stubborn hope that tomorrow would be better. Today, tomorrow has arrived.
“What we are commissioning here is more than bricks, mortar, and steel. It is a declaration that the postcode of a child’s birth will not determine the ceiling of their destiny. It is proof that government can be a force for justice, for equity, and for genuine transformation.
While appreciating the President for the visit, Governor Sanwo-Olu noted, “the projects you commissioned yesterday and the ones you are commissioning today. Lagos State remains ever committed to partnering with your administration for the progress and prosperity of our nation.”
The Governor charged the students to make proper use of the facilities. “My dear children, look around you. These buildings, these laboratories, these playing fields—they were built for you. They are our investment in your future, our act of faith in your potential.
“All we ask in return is that you seize every opportunity these facilities offer. Study hard. Dream boldly. Let no one tell you that your story has already been written. The regeneration of the Tolu Schools Complex is proof that stories can be rewritten, that communities can be reborn, and that the best chapters are always ahead.”
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