Oriwu Sun engaged this frontline educationist and Proprietor of Kith and Kin Educational Schools on the state of educational establishments and infrastructure in his primary constituency of operation-Owode. Ibeshe vis a vis his own outstanding private schools.
We asked questions on the impact of Kith and Kin Schools on the immediate community, the quantum of support from Fashola and Ambode’s administrations to enhance education and other activities in the area as well as the educational benefits of the recent trip by Chief Kaoli Olusanya with Oba Kabiru Shotobi and others to the United States of America.
Above all, Owode Ibeshe Community appeal to Lagos State Government for another public primary and secondary schools in their area and the intervention of the Lagos State government to stop chemical pollution of surface and underground water supplies by Nichemtex Industries.
Inside the massive premises of Kith and Kin College, with its beautiful facilities, especially its auditorium, and its excellent traditions which have earned it the label, ‘the future Harvard and Oxford of Ibeshe,’ Oriwu Sun imagined the huge investments the Olusanya family has made in the educational sector and the future of these four giant educational institutions and rejoiced with the proprietor in this interview.
Savour this segment of the supplement.
Q: What is being done to salvage some of the foundational schools in Ikorodu?
A: Ibeshe community, there are two public primary schools. One was established in 1947 while the other one was established in 1974 at Ibelefun. The first one, Methodist Primary school, was established at Ibeshe. Those are the two public primary schools, which are within Ibeshe community in Ikorodu. I interact with the two schools and with their teachers. I was, however, shocked at the poor state of infrastructural facilities of the schools, considering the large number of pupils therein. In most cases, the pupils don’t have adequate space and facilities to do mental work.
In such cases, I donated chairs, desks and other things to cushion the situation. I also called the attention of the former Governor of the state, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), to intervene, which he did. He visited the schools and helped with renovations of the schools. But these, are still not enough.
On several occasions, I sponsor their extracurricular events and inter-house sports, which has became an annual event. I also donated drums to the schools because in my private school, we drums, and the purpose is just to inspire students to get ready for the day’s jobs. But because most of the public schools don’t have musical instruments, the pupils just sing and go to class. So, I donated a set of drums each to the two schools. The first time they played the drums, the feedback I got was that the children were really happy and inspired.
To add to that, I extended scholarship to children in my community. We conduct annual entrance examinations in the two schools for admission to my school. We feel maybe we could get brilliant pupils from there and indeed, we have been able to strike gold with one child there. As standard as my school is, we have never seen any child score 100 percent in Mathematics in any of our exams, but in a public primary school, a child scored 100 in Mathematics. The same boy is now in SS1 and he still maintains the standard. I’ve been celebrating him every year during award ceremonies. I promised to sponsor his University education if he maintains that standard all through his senior secondary class.
Those are the helping hands we extend to the community by sponsoring education and offering scholarship. It is a full scholarship covering uniforms, feeding in the boarding school, etc. They don’t pay school fees for six years, which is more them six million naira in total fees.
Q: It was forty two years ago since the last public school was established here. With your connection, did you seek help from Fashola regarding establishment of more public schools?
A: I worked in collaboration with the CDA of this community and there is also the Ibeshe Resident Association, which was established by Chief B.O. Benson and I am the current Chairman of the Association. Jointly, we have looked at our environment and we have seen the influx of people. We know that the solution is to make public education available to the children. The Association, under my leadership, made representation to the government. We also suggested that if lands are not available, new public primary schools could be constructed on the spaces available within the premises of the existing schools. I led a delegation to SUBEB at Maryland to ask for these additional schools but unfortunately, nothing has been done till date. What we have been able to achieve, however, is the renovation of the existing schools.
Q: Isn’t there a space to house the public schools project within the Housing Estate, which is functioning well now?
A: You know how the government work, the housing project is under different ministries and agencies. There are two government housing estate projects here. There is Bola Tinubu Low-Cost Housing Estate at Ibeshe and LSDPC Estate opposite Nichemtex, which is still under construction. So, no new public school has been constructed.
Q: Are the private schools enough to absorb the student population here, especially those seeking to enter secondary school?
A: Let me say that there is no official statistics to really buttress that statement but from common observation, all could see that the school spaces available in both private and public, are not enough to accommodate school age children, not only at Ibeshe community but Lagos State in general. We see a lot of school age children roaming the streets, particularly the vulnerable families, who don’t have any means at all to take care of themselves.
Thus, I cannot say that we have enough school spaces to accommodate all children. Just look at the universities and also those students, who concluded their secondary schools awaiting admission into the university every year. Among the students that take JAMB every year, what percentage of them are absorbed? Less than 30 percent of them are admitted into the universities. What then happens to the 70 percent that weren’t admitted? The same situation applies here also.
Q: How far has your school performed?
A: Next year, 2017, Kith and Kin International School will be twenty years. I started with just a passion to help children of my immediate neighbours and friends. I was preparing them to write exams like WAEC, and thereafter, I decided to take it as my vocation since it was, and still is, what I love to do. God blessed me because I have a wife who is also a teacher. She encouraged and supported my vision and we started.
Today, we have established four schools. There is the Kith and Kin Primary school, which is the flagship; we started it in 1997. Then in 2001, the Kith and Kin International College was established. Then again in 2007, the Kith and Kin Montessori was established. In 2012, Kith and Kin Academy was also established. Today, we have four schools operating under the name Kith and Kin Educational Schools.
Q: Talking about the brilliant public school boy that was awarded a scholarship, what do you have to say about the notion that public schools don’t produce the best?
A: Nigerians are naturally endowed and we are resilient people. We strive under very harsh conditions unlike the civilized world, where everything is provided for students, who go through easy means to excel. Here, on the other hand, we struggle and adapt to our environment. That is to say, in essence, that there are brilliant and talented children in public schools. Some children have natural abilities to excel in their academics. When my school conducted entrance examination for scholarship in the two public schools around here and at Owode Ibelefun Primary School, the boy was discovered.
I was amazed to find out that a boy from public school could score 100 percent in mathematics. That is a pointer that despite being trained under a very difficult circumstance and in an unconducive environment, the boy has something in him that should be mentored, nurtured, promoted and encouraged. If we do that and assist the boy, the end result would be beneficial to Nigeria at large and our immediate community. He could be a scientist or an innovator in the nearest future. That is the same opportunity I want to make available to other gifted children in our community. It will stand as a process of giving back to my community.
Q: Being formerly in a state of disrepair, what impact has the newly commissioned Ibeshe road had on your school and the community at large?
A: Ten years ago, the state of the road in question was terrible, but with representation and pressure from the joint CDA and from Ibeshe Resident Association, under the leadership of Chief B.O. Benson and other influential people around here, we met the former Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN). Other well connected people here include, Oba Richard Ogunsanya, the Olubeshe of Ibeshe; the publisher of Oriwu Sun, Chief Monzor Olowosago, Chief Taiwo Kara, and myself, Kaoli Olusanya. We never rested and at every opportunity and occasion we met Fashola, we always mentioned it to him, even through writing. We thank God that he responded.
He promised he would do it during his first term in office but it was not completed until his second term. The rehabilitation is a welcome one that relieved pains and added value to properties around here. Families were able to come in and you could see a lot of estates newly springing up here and there. So, in a way, we are also enjoying the benefits of democracy and good governance in Ibeshe. We are now integrated into that larger Lagos State dream.
Q: Under your corporate social responsibility, what have you done and what has your meeting with the Governor yielded?
A: The joint CDA decided that we wanted another secondary public school because we have only one here, which is Keme Balogun secondary school. If you visit the school, you will find out that the classes are so dull and congested. The school was built more than forty years ago. The same school is contending with increasing population.
That is why we are pressing for another secondary school to be constructed within that place but that has not manifested. We are not resting though; we will still continue to work at it. We have already put it in writing.
The other thing we mentioned was portable water supply. The textile factory at Owode has ruined the surface and underground water of this community through the chemical they pour into the environment untreated. It has killed the aquatic life and polluted the underground water. Anywhere you dig wells or boreholes here, when you take it out, it is coloured, and it will require a lot of treatment before it can be cleared. Individuals cannot achieve that and so we are calling on government to help us. The government should monitor the way the environment is treated. Our suggestion is that the LSDPC opposite the factory should construct the water processing plant that will supply the entire community.
Q: How long will you continue to process the scholarship given to public school students?
A: As long as God spares my life and even beyond that because eventually, Kith and Kin, by the grace of God, would be entrusted to a board of Trustees to run. My vision is that Kith and Kin would remain in perpetuity; it is not to be divided among my children for heritage. Right now, I am saying that as my wish. I pray that before I depart this life, God should give me the grace to institute a Board of Trustees that would run Kith and Kin in perpetuity. It is not about me or my children; it is about giving to the community the best. I have seen good models that are doing very well. Corona is run by Board of Trustees and it was established by foreign wives of Nigerians. They created a trustee and till today, it is still doing very well because it is run by professionals and not family members.
Q: Are there any other plans, apart from the scholarship scheme, that you have for the children and community at large?
A: My goal is to recognize where I came from. I came from a very humble background and if nobody had made the effort to encourage me, I would not be where I am today. That was what I want to offer these children. It is not about indigenes but I am looking at human beings within this area that would need help and use the benefits with commitment and discipline.
If we do that, we would be helping our community and Nigeria as a whole. I hope that by the time these children grow up to become influential, they will remember that they received help and could inspire them to do greater things. While some people will condemn Nigerians are not good, they will be saying that some Nigerians as good people. So, that is the future I want to build.
Q: Under your corporate social responsibility, have you done anything concerning the unemployment rate in the country with respect to indigenes of the community?
A: It is not just about indigenes; it is about the right persons that could do the job. If you talk about indigenes, you will be pinning down yourself. Look for the right person that can do the job. In terms of generation of employment, I have on the list here, about one hundred and twenty employees directly taking salaries from Kith and Kin.
In addition, we have suppliers of food, papers for printing, trainers, mechanics, carpenters etc. It is a lot of support for the community and we have been able to add a lot of value to life. I see in the staff, the joy of been connected with one another beyond official assignment. They communicate well with one another. You see, what is important is that you can lean on somebody for counsel and support in time of need.
Q: What has Ambode done to assist your community in the area of education, having worked hard for the APC government in power?
A: I will not just mention about this community. What I have seen in Governor Ambode is another fresh ideas. I see in him the touch of an astute administrator and exceptionally brilliant finance manager. I see in him another style of administration that drive the machinery of government to bring the best practice of good governance into Lagos State in terms of the projects embarked upon.
From 1999 to 2007, I was part of the administration of Lagos State as a Commissioner and since that time, we had been talking about the fourth mainland bridge, but because of the paucity of fund and the poor relationship between Lagos States and Federal government, much progress was not made. The Tinubu government was convinced that the infrastructure would transform Ikorodu environment and add value to Lagos State and Nigeria. But the Federal government was not ready to partner with Lagos State. When BRF came in; the poor relationship was still there.
Fortunately, Ambode came in at the time the state and federal government are in the same party for the first time. The time he announced that an MOU has been signed for the construction of the bridge, he said the Federal government doesn’t have to make a contribution to it. And I give credit to the thinker, Governor Ambode, for coming up with such a financial structure that would finance the project without involving the Federal government. That was another magic formula of Ambode.
Having fourth Mainland bridge would make tremendous impact in this axis; poverty will reduce; businesses would be established and it is going to be another transit route. Ambode should be commended for quality thinking.
Q: You are a member of advisory council for the new kabiyesi of Ikorodu and you were in that team that exported the culture and values of this great kingdom to the United States. We understand you had contact with a powerful man over there, who is interested in the educational sector and wishes to bring in something to beef up and add value to the educational system in Ikorodu. Can you quantify the benefits you are anticipating from that project?
A: The man you are referring to, I guess, is Dr. Brown, the CEO of B and C Associates of Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S.A. He was special Adviser to President Nixon during his time. He sponsored Kabiyesi’s education just like the scholarship I’m offering now to children of ‘Mr. nobody’. At that time, he was offering that opportunity to Kabiyesi, who was then a ‘Mr Nobody’. He picked him up, supported him and nurtured him to become what he is today.
I was part of the team that went back to America in September, when Kabiyesi dedicated his new position to his mentor. Mr. Brown took us through a lot of institutions and at each place, we see the emphasis on education in his voice. We are extending what he did to vulnerable families in Nigeria through their children by sponsoring their education. Because he has seen the evidence of educational opportunity given to Kabiyesi, he felt like extending it to more people.
His first promise was to export about one hundred thousand volume of books to Ikorodu. We wrote to the Governor through the Ministry of Education, under the leadership of the Deputy Governor, these books are now available to be distributed to public secondary schools and primary schools. They are also planning to do so in the tertiary institutions.
Secondly, Dr. Brown promised to build a library in the name of Kabiyesi. It is to be called King’s Library and Youth Empowerment Centre. He sent us three versions of the architectural drawings to pick one, and the Kabiyesi, in his wisdom, constituted a technical committee made up of Professionals in Architecture, Engineering and Survey. After looking into it, they picked one. Since we are going to build on land, we contacted the Lagos State Polytechnic to donate land because they have vast land space.
The technical committee, led by Prof Kunle Ade Wahab, visited the Polytechnic. Prof Wahab was incidentally the former Chairman of the Governing Council. Among them was also Chief Taiwo Kara, who was a member of the immediate past Governing Council. They presented the request and gladly, it was approved by the Lagos State Polytechnic Governing Council. So, we are conveying that approval to the sponsor of the project. We hope that during the first anniversary of Kabiyesi, Chief Robert Bob Brown would be visiting Nigeria. We also want him to see our culture here in Nigeria and lay the foundation block of the library.
Q: What is your reaction to the pronouncement of the Federal government concerning JAMB/UTME exams?
A: My own feeling is that the different layers of examinations that were imposed on our students these days are becoming cumbersome, stressful and boring. Today, our children will do WEAC, JAMB and UTME including interview before gaining admission. This is quite unlike those days when students do only one exam, WAEC. We are not helping them at all. Now, they feel that writing examination to obtain certificate is more important than the acquisition of knowledge; thereby, killing their initiatives. In other neighbouring countries, where our children are excelling, like in Ghana, they don’t do all those exams. In America, they just ask for your one examination result.
Infact, some of our students, who have not finished writing NECO, have gained admission to American Universities with just one result. So, why the layers. The policy makers should really think and rethink. I support the idea of scrapping UTME and I hope nobody would bring it back again. The education system needs reform in line with the best practices all over the world.