Residents urge Kwara govt to avert looming tragedy at Lasinmin Community School

By Oluwatoyin Hawal Momolosho –

At Lasinmin Community Secondary School in Gaa Zaka, Ilorin, Kwara State, students learn in unsafe classrooms. WESTERN POST reporter Oluwatoyin Hawal Momolosho, who visited the school, reports that the government must step in to avert a likely mishap…

Lasinmin Community Secondary School was established in 2021 as a community initiative of Justice Lambo.

The school, which serves over seven communities, including Lasinmin, Olanrewaju, Gaa Zaka, Iderade, Idi-Ape-Oko and others, has both junior and senior secondary sections.

However, the senior secondary block, damaged by a rainstorm, has not been renovated since 2024, despite repeated appeals to the government.

Now, the classrooms are unsafe for students, Issa Musa, an SS3 student, told WESTERN POST. “Anytime I come to school, I feel unsafe because of the building and the surroundings. It’s not only that the class is incomplete and half destroyed; we also face erosion issues.

“Whenever it rains, we have nowhere to run to. There are no proper windows or doors to protect us, and the rain enters our classroom. It’s very annoying. We are pleading for help from the government; they should please help us,” Musa said.

A selfless community effort

Recalling how it all started, a resident, Mr Olanrewaju, narrated how the first two classroom blocks were built for the junior section by the community with the help of Justice Lambo in 2021.

“We have been enjoying those classrooms until today. Earlier this year, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq also built two new blocks for the junior section, which are conducive and safe for learning.

“But we still need urgent help for the senior section block because it is becoming dangerous. Anyone passing by can see that it’s unsafe. Do you think it’s safe for people to sit and learn inside such classrooms? We are pleading for quick government intervention,” Olanrewaju stated.

When WESTERN POST visited the school, the principal was away, and teachers declined to comment.

Government speaks –

Speaking with WESTERN POST, the Commissioner for Education, Dr Lawal Olohungbebe, revealed the State Government’s plans to renovate and expand schools.

“There are plans for senior secondary schools in Kwara State, and the Lasinmin Lambo community is part of it. A budget has been allocated for the project, funded through loans obtained by the state for the development of education. So, we are not neglecting them,” Dr Olohungbebe said.

According to him, school heads should not wait for the Ministry of Education to visit them before reaching out. “Anyway, do tell them to write a letter to the Ministry of Education, attach photographs of the school, and something will be done about it,” he concluded.