... commends govt for upgrading Primary School

The concerned citizens of Zango Ward in llorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State have appealed to the state over the longstanding heap of waste situated at Okesuna area Ilorin the state capital.

The appeal was made by members of Zango Ward Development Association Elders' Forum, under the chairmanship of Alhaji Lanre Sheriki who trooped to The Herald last week to vent out the plight posed to the inhabitants of the area following the widespread of diseases which claimed some lives and land some in hospital.

The said waste according to the forum has been constituting threat to the inhabitants of the area by a way of breeding life threatening diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and several other diseases that can be contacted through unkempt environment.

A twelve-year old boy (name withheld) whose house is by the side of the waste site was reported dead last three weeks. The poor boy died of cholera. Several similar cases of carnage have since been recorded in the area at the instance of the said life threatening waste.

The association also added that the dumping site has also become a hideout for some disgruntled elements who take undue advantage of the site to unleash terror.

They explained that the members of the community usually engage in communal efforts to get rid of the mountainous dumping site, but the enormity of the waste is to perform environmental sanitation at the site on monthly basis.

The forum therefore called on Governor Abdulfatah Amed to swiftly come to their aid by clearing the site, if possible take the possession of the site or erect any project on the said land.

The forum explained that the exposure of children to the waste site is a major factor that is responsible for the contamination of various epidemics.

They pledged that the people of the area will continue to remember the governor if he gives their request a swift consideration.

The association however commended the state government for the comprehensive revolution of Okesuna Primary School, describing it as first of its kind in the history of Primary Schools in the state.

They described the governor Ahmed's decision to upgrade the school as fulfument of his electioneering campaign he made when visited the area and applauded the governor's giant stride achievements recorded during the short period he came onboard as number one citizen of the state.

The forum which hinted that the renovated school was one of the forerunners primary schools in the state, said it has produced various eminent personalities choosing career.

According to the association, the school has produced two Emirs of Ilorin. The late emir, Alhaji Zulu Karnaini Gambari and the present Emir, Alhaji, (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu Gambari. Other personalities produced by the school include the former Chief Judge of the Federation, Justice Alfa Balgore, former vice chancellor, University of Ilorin, Professor Oba AbdulRaheem among others.

The forum also appealed to the government to convert junior secondary school Zango. Okesuna to senior Secondary School so as to give the children of the area ample opportunity to acquire secondary education within their vicinity.

The association also gave kudos to the stale Commissioner for Works and Transport. Dr. Abubakar Kannike for taking a bold step to single-handedly upgrade the Zango Ward Community Clinic and Maternity, Okesuna, with provision of facilities and drugs.

Culled from The Herald Newspaper