Lagos Lawmaker Seeks Provision of More Schools In Badagry

A lawmaker in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Setonji David has called for better funding of education in Badagry area of the state.

David, representing Badagry Constituency 2 in the Assembly, added in an interview with newsmen that the people of Badagry have been deprived of education facilities and schools and that the residents of the area have resorted to self-help.

The lawmaker, who is the Chairman of the House Committee on Urban Planning and Physical Development, revealed that the people of Iragon Thogli in Ikoga Area of Badagry are waiting for the state government to take over a block of classrooms that they built through self-help.

He revealed that the people of the community decided to build the school as there is scarcity of schools in the area.

"Education is one of the basic requirements of any community, state or country. When you pay lip service to education, you are stifling development in that community. 

"That is why those of us in Badagry are seeking quality education. We are having challenges because the number of primary and secondary schools in our area is not enough. 

"This is why some of these communities are resorting to self help approach. That was why the people of Thogli in Ikoga Area of my community established a school. 

"They built a set of classrooms and employed teachers there for the children. What they are seeking now is the approval of the state government so that they could hand over the school to them for control," he said.

The lawmaker emphasised that this shows how passionate the people Thogli are on education.

He added that the people of the area decided to build the school after appealing to the government without getting positive results.

"The school is called Thogli Community Grammar School in Iragon Thogli. It is being run by the community. They just want the state government to take it over and provide all the necessary facilities. 

"Mowo Area and several other communities in Badagry don't have schools. Some of these schools are located several miles away from the communities and the students have to trek 3 to 5 miles to get to the available schools," he stated.

David added that there were so many areas in his constituency that require schools, while appealing to the state government to help the community in Badagry on this.

He accused the Federal Government of paying lip service to education, which he said was why the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) is currently on strike. 

"About 20 years ago, you see people from other countries coming to our universities, but you don't see that again. 

"They used to come to a place like the University of Ibadan to study, but that is no longer there. 

"So, we need to do something if we are really serious about developing this country. If you don't take education serious, what then do you take serious. So, I will support the declaration of a state of emergency in our education sector," he said.

David however, called the attention of the government to the recommendations of UNESCO on the education sector, which he said should be the minimum. 

"We are even far below that, every form of development is hinged on education. When you pay lip service to education, then we are finished. We need to change our attitude to the education sector," he said.