Ezekiel Okpuzor
In furtherance of its Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) initiative, the Rotary Club of Lekki Golden has led a partnership in donating a block of four toilets and two wash basins to Wahab Folawiyo Secondary School Ikoyi, Lagos State, at the weekend.
The project was brought to fruition by the leadership of the Rotary Club of Lekki Golden under the sponsorship of the Rotary Foundation International’s WASH project grant number 2237914, in partnership with Rotary International District 9110, Rotary International District 9150 and Rotary International District 7680, respectively.
In her remarks, the President of the Rotary Club of Lekki Golden, Rtn. Gbemisola Aruwayo-Obe noted that the facility is one of the many ways the Rotary Foundation is committed to making human communities more livable.
She said: “Today marks a significant milestone in our commitment to promote better sanitation and hygiene in our schools, as we commission the new toilets that have been donated to the Wahab Folawiyo Senior School by the Rotary Club of Lekki Golden in partnership with Rotary Foundation District 9110.
“We are gathered here to celebrate this donation which we believe will have a lasting impact on the lives of our students, teachers, and the entire school community. We recognize that access to basic sanitation is a fundamental right that should be available to everyone, regardless of their socio-economic status. The Rotary Club of Lekki Golden is committed to supporting initiatives that promote access to these basic needs.”
While fielding questions from journalists at the commissioning ceremony, the District Governor, Rotary International District 9110, Rtn. Omotunde Lawson, FCAI, said that the facility is part of Rotary Foundation International’s humanitarian efforts at bridging the gaps that exist in society.
Lawson said: “This project is the collective efforts of the Rotary Club of Lekki Golden of our District and two other Districts outside of Nigeria. This is one of the humanitarian services rendered by Rotary to communities and of course, a school is an integral part of a community where we have quite several children who, if care is not taken, are susceptible to diseases if they do not have quality toilets to use.
“Rotary does not do a project where the need does not arise so the toilet coming here means the school really needed it and Rotary will always take action when people make their needs known. We are here to meet one of the needs of this school which is the water and sanitation facilities.”
While handing over the facility to the school, Lawson advised the school authorities represented on the need to take proper care of the facility to ensure it serves its long-term purpose.
Receiving the project on behalf of the Commissioner for Education, Director, Schools Admin, Education district 3, Mr. Ajayi Rotimi expressed appreciation to the Rotary Foundation while assuring the DG that the facility would be adequately maintained.
Rotimi said, “We all know the Lagos state government’s position on PPP partnerships and I am sure my Honourable Commissioner will be glad to see this and also my Tutor General and Permanent Secretary. We want to say thank you very much. We promise that we will make use of the place and keep it so that when you come back, you will be happy to have done this”
On their part, Principal Wahab Folawiyo Senior High School, Mr. Amoo OLUFEMI, while recounting the many favours Rotary has showered on the school, stated that “this is not the first time Rotary would be doing so much in the school. At a time, they refurbished the whole laboratories in the school”. Olufemi with the Chairman, Parents Forum, Mr. Obasanjo Salvdo, thanked the Foundation and prayed that their resources be multiplied to do more good work.
In her closing remarks, Aruwayo-Obe expressed gratitude to the management and staff of the Wahab Folawiyo Senior High School for their cooperation and support in executing the project, members of the Rotary Club of Lekki Golden, the Rotary Foundation International and the District Governor, Mrs. Omotunde Lawson FCAI, for working tirelessly to ensure that the donation was made possible.
