In a landmark move set to expand access to quality education in Oyo State, the Chief Whip of the Oyo State House of Assembly, representing the good people of Atiba State Constituency, Hon. Gbenga Joseph Oyekola, on Tuesday joined hands with the Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade I, to lay the foundation for a new government approved secondary school in the ancient town of Oyo.
A World Bank-assisted project facilitated by the Oyo Assembly Chief Whip, Hon. Gbenga Joseph Oyekola.
The groundbreaking ceremony, which drew a distinguished audience including lawmakers, traditional rulers, educators, and community members from all walks of life, marks a significant step forward in the state’s ongoing efforts to improve educational infrastructure and promote youth development.
Speaking at the event, Hon. Gbenga Oyekola highlighted the strategic importance of the project, describing it as a targeted intervention aimed at addressing the growing demand for secondary education in the area.
According to him, we laid this foundation and the classroom to be erected and named after our monarch Oba Akeem Abimbola High School.
“Today’s foundation laying is a commitment to the future of our children. Education is the most effective tool for empowerment, a weapon of development, and this project reflects our determination to invest in the next generation,” the lawmaker said.
While explaining the present situation of the school, Hon. Oyekola said, they are currently in a rented apartment, and the pupil population at JSS1 is 155 now.
So they are experiencing a problem of space. But with this one now, one of their problems is solved.
The new school is expected to accommodate hundreds of students upon completion and will feature modern classrooms, science laboratories, a library, administrative offices, and ICT-enabled learning spaces.
According to the project plan, construction will commence immediately with a timeline geared toward operational readiness by the next academic session.
In his own speech at the ceremony, the Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade, lauded the initiative as a bold stride toward development and called for sustained collaboration between political leaders and traditional institutions in addressing the needs of the people.
“Oyo has long been known as a center of learning and leadership. This project reaffirms that legacy and will open doors for countless young minds to achieve their full potential,” the monarch said.
Oba Owoade applauded the Oyo Assembly Chief Whip, Hon. Oyekola, for his legislative prowess to facilitate the learning classroom for teaching and learning to be productive, thereby transforming the potential of young minds in nation-building.
However, residents of the host community expressed appreciation to Hon. Gbenga Oyekola for prioritizing education in his legislative agenda, noting that the school will help reduce overcrowding in existing institutions and ease the burden on families who have had to send their children long distances to access quality education around Elegbo and its environment.
Equally, Education stakeholders in Oyo Federal Constituency have welcomed the initiative as timely and impactful, urging
the lawmaker is not to relent in bringing more developmental projects to his constituency.
The school project is part of a broader development blueprint being championed by Hon. Gbenga Oyekola, who has consistently advocated for increased investment in youth empowerment, infrastructure, and social services in his constituency.
As the foundation stone was formally laid, applause echoed through the grounds, a symbolic affirmation of a shared vision: that every child in Oyo deserves access to education, and that vision is now beginning to take physical form.
