Efforts to improve public education infrastructure in Nigeria received a significant boost on March 25, 2026, as the Vcare for Development Foundation (VCDF), in partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and supported by Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited, delivered a comprehensive rehabilitation of Obele Community Senior and Junior Secondary Schools in Surulere.
Across Nigeria, deteriorating school facilities, from overcrowded classrooms to inadequate sanitation, continue to negatively affect learning outcomes. The Obele Community Schools, a microcosm of such inadequacy — made up of the Primary, Junior and Secondary Schools — have for years laboured under inadequate teaching conditions with aging and dilapidated infrastructure.
The Obele community schools rehabilitation project therefore represents a targeted response to these challenges, demonstrating how partnerships between government, development organisations, and the private sector can improve access to quality education.
The intervention, implemented under VCDF’s Model School Initiative (MSI), reflects a growing emphasis on collaborative, impact-driven solutions to address longstanding infrastructure deficits in Nigeria’s education sector.
At the official handover ceremony, stakeholders from government, the education sector, and the host community gathered to mark the completion of the upgraded facilities.
The Honourable Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, described the project as aligned with Lagos State’s broader development priorities, noting that improved learning environments are essential for student performance, well-being, and retention.
He commended VCDF and its partners for supporting the state’s vision of safe, inclusive, and conducive learning spaces, emphasizing that sustained collaboration will be critical to addressing infrastructure gaps across Lagos.
Similarly, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs Abisola Dokunmu-Adegbite urged the students and school administrators to ensure proper use and maintenance of the upgraded facilities.
VCDF’s National Programme Manager, James Olabi Odey, said the Obele intervention is part of a broader effort to expand access to quality education nationwide. According to him, the Model School Initiative has already reached over 28,000 beneficiaries across Lagos, Delta, and Akwa Ibom States.
He highlighted the role of private sector support, noting that SEEPCO’s involvement demonstrates how corporate social responsibility can be effectively aligned with community development priorities.
Key Upgrades Delivered
The rehabilitation project delivered significant infrastructure and facility upgrades:
Obele Senior High School:
- Renovation of 14 classrooms, 13 offices, and stores
- Construction and equipping of 3 science laboratories (Physics, Chemistry, Biology)
- Roof replacement for a one-storey classroom block
- Provision of 150 laboratory stools, 100 student desks, and teaching boards
- Construction of new sanitation facilities and walkways
Obele Junior School:
- Renovation of 8 classrooms and 10 offices
- Library upgrade with study cubicles, shelves, and seating
- Provision of desks, teachers’ furniture, and ceiling fans
- Installation of a water system and improved sanitation
The MSI initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4, which promotes inclusive and equitable quality education.
Various speakers including the Chairman of Surulere Local Government, Hon. Sulaimon Bamidele Yusuf, noted that while infrastructure upgrades are critical, long-term impact will depend on maintenance, community ownership, and accountability.
For residents of Obele, the transformation goes beyond physical improvements. Community leaders and education stakeholders present at the handover described the project as a major shift from previously deteriorating conditions, highlighting its potential to enhance both teaching and learning outcomes.
Improved school environments, they noted, can influence not only academic performance but also broader social and economic development within communities.
As Lagos continues to grow, initiatives like the Obele school rehabilitation underscore the importance of strategic partnerships in building resilient and inclusive education systems.
Also present at the event were Olusegun Osinaike, Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary, Education District IV; and Mrs Florence Bolodeoku, Chairman of the Surulere Chapter of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS).
