Caption: A stark visual of the infrastructural decay: a classroom at Iworo-Ajido Model College with a leaking roof and damaged windows, symbolizing the broader neglect.
By Raji Rasak
BADAGRY, Lagos State — A gathering meant for celebration and reunion instead became a platform for a poignant outcry. During its Annual General Meeting on Sunday, the Iworo-Ajido Model College, Ebute-Olofin Badagry Old Student Association (IAMCOSAEB) voiced profound distress over the accelerating physical and functional decline of their alma mater, a school designated as a “model college” by the Lagos State Government.
The scene at the college in Iworo-Ajido, Badagry Local Government, was one of jarring contrast: alumni, including professors and professionals, confronted the crumbling reality of a place that once launched their careers. Their collective lament paints a troubling picture of a systemic failure that directly impacts over 1,000 students drawn from seven surrounding communities.
The Broken Promise of a “Model” College
Mr. Okelowo Oyedele, President of the Alumni Association, highlighted the central paradox. “The college was classified as one of the model schools ten years ago by Lagos State,” he stated. “Since then, it has not been given the prototype building like others.” This designation, intended to signal a standard of excellence and adequate infrastructure, has become an empty label. Where other model colleges received modern, purpose-built facilities, Iworo-Ajido has been left with decaying structures from its previous incarnation as a high school, creating a stark inequality within the state’s own educational framework.
The consequences are visceral and immediate. “Apart from infrastructural decay, some students have no desks and tables to receive teaching, thereby sitting on the floor learning,” Oyedele reported. This fundamental lack strips students of basic dignity and hinders the learning process itself.
Caption: A moment of hope amidst the decay: Prof. Olusegun Whenu, an alumnus, presents a cash reward to an outstanding student in 2025, demonstrating the alumni’s commitment to fostering excellence despite the environment.
A Glimpse into the Past Reveals the Depth of Decline
Alumni testimonies serve as a powerful historical record, measuring the school’s steep fall from grace. Mrs. Margaret Olusanya, the association’s Vice-President and the college’s first female science student, recalled a functional institution. “Those years, science laboratories were functioning well, with teachers’ offices attached,” she said. “But today, you don’t need a prophet to tell that the lab has not been in use in the last decade.”
This sentiment was echoed by Prof. Olusegun Whenu of Lagos State University. “Honestly, leaving the school since 1983 and coming back to see the college in this deplorable state is pathetic,” he remarked, connecting the school’s condition to a wider societal issue. “One wonders what is happening to the social responsibility of companies and industries, because government can’t do it alone.”
The current administration confirmed the alarming reality. Rev. Omodele Aminu, Principal of the Senior College, stated plainly, “All SS1 students… were sitting on the floor to write and learn.” He described a chaotic scene during rains, with leaking roofs forcing students to flee between buildings. His Junior College counterpart, Mr. Oluwatoyin Adeleye, added that overcrowding has forced them to borrow classrooms, a temporary fix for a chronic problem. “We are managing what we have to get what we need,” he said, summarizing a philosophy of bare survival.
Patchwork Solutions and a Pledge for Action
Faced with government inaction, the alumni have stepped into the breach with stopgap measures. The association has purchased desks and tables for over 100 students and rewards academic excellence with financial prizes—a testament to their dedication but a mere band-aid on a gaping wound.
Caption: The Principal of Iworo-Ajido Senior College, Rev. Omodele Aminu, underscores the daily reality: students sitting on floors, a physical manifestation of systemic neglect.
A potential ray of hope emerged from the Ministry of Education. Mr. Paul Akinyele, Personal Assistant to the Permanent Secretary for Education District Five, reported that a recent assessment visit had been conducted. He offered an assurance: “The prototype building would be constructed in 2026.”
This promise, while welcome, is met with cautious optimism by a community that has witnessed a decade of unfulfilled “model” status. The story of Iworo-Ajido Model College is more than a report on dilapidated buildings; it is a case study in educational equity, the weight of bureaucratic labels, and the resilient advocacy of a community refusing to let its future generations be educated on the floor. The year 2026 will be a critical test of whether official pledges can finally translate into concrete floors, solid roofs, and the restored dignity of a thousand students.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting also included rewards for outstanding students and staff. Edited by Funmilayo Adeyemi.
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