A Non Governmental Organization, ”Water For Life Support Foundation” has donated water project to 2nd Baptist Basic School, Okeho, Kajola Local Government, Area of Oyo State.
An epoch making occasion and commissioning of water project that consists of motorised borehole, two water tanks and a generating set took place on Friday, December 11 at 2nd Baptist Basic School, Ogan Okeho.
According to the project’s facilitator and Founding Executive Director of ‘Water For Life Support Foundation’, Professor(Mrs) Grace Oloukoi revealed that the water project was donated by the foundation with a view to making water available for the use of the pupils and teachers.
Oloukoi who is also an alumnus of the citadel of academic learning stressed that the water project is in place in order to make the learning environment conducive for the pupils, teachers and other users.
She said water was essential in humans’ lives and where there is problem of water, there would be associated problems like poverty, famine, water born diseases and other contagious diseases which are capable of hampering the progress and development of the areas.
While going on a memory lane, Professor of Urban Planning and Environmental Management disclosed that the foundation was established in 2014 and got registered in October, 2015 by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with its slogan, “Improved Access to Water In a Changing Environment”.
She added that there are three pillars of activities in the foundation, which are Research, Advocacy and Community Water Action respectively.
Oloukoi expatiated that ‘Research’ centres majorly on area of her professionalism which is Urban and Environmental Planning while ‘Advocacy’ deals primarily with engagement of both Media and Government in advocating for the need for water supply in vulnerable communities and ‘Community Water Action’ calls for complete expedition of actions on communities where the dwellers are lacking water.
She reiterated that the third pillar(Community Water Action)was the area of focus which necessitated the drilling and commissioning of water project to school where she had her elementary and primary education.
While handling the project, she disclosed that the school management and executive members of Parents-Teachers’ Association would be henceforth responsible for its maintenance and simultaneously enjoined the current Headteacher of the school, Mrs Babarinde J.A and others to make its maintenance a priority.
Oloukoi said that the project would have been commissioned since March 22 which was coincidental with World Water Day but an outbreak of coronavirus pandemic which forced the governments to close the academic institutions delayed it till this date.
On importance of education, she enjoined the teachers to impact positively and selflessly into the pupils’ lives and also the learners should ensure their humility, hard work, endurance and obedience so as to attain the greater heights in life.
In her speech, the head teacher of the school, Mrs Babarinde J.A appreciated the Founding Executive Director for donating the gigantic project to the citadel of academic learning which she said would no doubt provide conducive environment for learning, adding that they would make good use of the project so as to encourage the subsequent ones.
The programme which was moderated by Deacon Comrade R.A. Abegunrin featured songs composed by the pupils with attendance of the facilitator, her husband, Oloukoi, school management, PTA executive members, Mr&Mrs Adeniji, Mr Robert Adeniji( Chairmanship Aspirant for Kajola Local Government), Mr Azeez and host of others.
