By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Dilapidated structures |
The Iworo Ajido Model College Old Students Association, Badagry (IAMCOSAB), has issued a passionate plea to the Lagos State Government to rescue their alma mater from severe infrastructural decay. Donating chairs, desks, and cash prizes to students.
The call was made during the Association’s Annual General Meeting and Reunion on December 26, 2025, held on the school’s premises. the celebratory mood was overshadowed by dismay at the school’s worsening physical state, which alumni described as a betrayal of its legacy.
Mr. Oyedele Okelowo, National President of IAMCOSAB, painted a stark contrast between the school’s past and present. "I finished in this school in the 80s, and I remember we even had a laboratory for science students," he recalled.
"In as much as we acknowledge the Lagos State Government is trying, our assessment over the last two years shows that government presence is desperately needed here. We serve more than seven communities, with over 1,000 students at times. This school needs prototype structures; it was classified as a modern school but never got them. It’s in the budget, but it never actualizes. This school has produced great people, and the government needs to act now."
Echoing this urgency, the National Secretary, Mr. Mufutau Musibau Olusegun, highlighted the decline from the institution's former glory. "When we were in school, this was one of the best schools in Badagry. Now, the infrastructure is nothing to talk about," he stated.
"It’s so bad that from 1 p.m., teachers cannot stay in class due to overcrowding and heat. Come 2026, the Lagos State Government needs to do something here." His comments underscored the critical impact of dilapidation on daily learning and teaching efficacy.
Professor Olusegun Whenu of Lagos State University, an alumnus from the 1983 set, pointed out the glaring neglect. "All I can see are the old buildings we used then; there’s a great level of degrading," he said.
"While government cannot do everything, what of corporate social responsibility from nearby industries? The alumni are giving back, but students need an enabling environment. Some classes have no doors or windows; some roofs are leaking." His remarks called for a multi-stakeholder approach to address the crisis.
Prince Adebayo Kamoru, who graduated in 1994/95, gave an emotional account of the conditions. "What I met today is not commendable at all. Last time, I met students sitting on the floor, using stones as desks, or their mother’s wrappers. I shed tears," he shared.
"The government needs to intervene urgently. Prototype structures and furniture are needed. The only buildings are the ones we used back then, and student population must be controlled." His testimony highlighted the human toll of the infrastructure deficit.
Despite the somber findings, the reunion served as a nostalgic gathering and a catalyst for continued advocacy. The alumni’s annual walk-through the compound a tradition to assess needs left them resolved to amplify their call.
The school, which has produced numerous professors, journalists, and business leaders, stands at a crossroads. IAMCOSAB’s donations are a stopgap, but as President Okelowo emphasized, only sustained government action can restore Iworo Ajido Model College to its former stature and secure the future of Badagry’s children.