By Ayodele Abere
The Leader of the Senate, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, has completed the comprehensive renovation of Government Science College, Iyin-Ekiti, within six weeks, with assurance that a second phase covering laboratories, library facilities and additional classrooms will follow.
Bamidele disclosed this on Thursday during an inspection and commissioning of the completed first phase, saying the intervention was driven by his belief that solid educational foundations are critical to raising future professionals and leaders.
According to him, the school should be a centre where students acquire the skills and knowledge to surpass the achievements of the present generation.
The Senate Leader explained that the need for renovation arose after his institution, the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences (FUTES), Iyin-Ekiti, was granted approval by the Ekiti State Government to use the permanent site of the Government Science College for its take-off.
He said unforeseen circumstances, including torrential rainfall, disrupted the initial arrangement, making it imperative to protect the interest of the secondary school students and upgrade their facilities.
He said he subsequently appealed to the state government for a six-week window during the students’ vacation to carry out the renovation, noting that the first phase was delivered within the period.
Facilities renovated in the first phase include the boys’ and girls’ hostels, administrative block, classrooms, dining hall and kitchen.
Bamidele stressed that the project would not end with the first phase, adding that the second phase would focus on laboratories, libraries and other specialised facilities, while additional classroom blocks would be constructed where land permits.
He described the intervention as a demonstration of respect for the Ekiti State Government as an institution, and commended Governor Biodun Oyebanji for his support, noting that collaboration between government and well-meaning individuals could yield lasting benefits for the education sector.
On the poor access road to the school, the Senate Leader said he had discussed the situation with the governor and assured the school community of immediate palliative works through grading, pending the execution of a major federal road project planned to pass through the area.
In her remarks, the Ekiti State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Dr. Bimpe Aderiye, commended Bamidele for the intervention, describing it as a model of effective partnership. She assured that the government would sustain running grants to schools and ensure proper monitoring and maintenance of the facilities.
Also speaking, the first Executive Governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, lauded Bamidele for bringing to reality an initiative conceived during his administration.
Bamidele said his ultimate goal is to help build a school capable of producing future engineers, medical doctors, pharmacists, scientists and leaders for the state and the nation.
Highlight of the event was the donation of buses, one each to Government Science College, Iyin-Ekiti and the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin-Ekiti.
