Renovate a Classroom block - Agbirigidi, Oyo state

Have you ever been so angry about an injustice that you just had to act?

I (Ima Chima) work for an organization that provides technical assistance to African and Asian governments to set up and run deworming programmes for school-age children. Over the years on my visits to check in with some schools, I have seen it all - the good, the bad and the ugly! But this particular school made me realise the terrible situation some of our future leaders have to endure to receive an education in the public school system.

Anglican Grammar School is located in Agbirigidi Moniya, Oyo State, Nigeria. Situated in a rural area, it serves about 170 students in grades 7-12 and is the only public secondary school available to the entire community. The roofs and walls are broken down and only one classroom is functional—but even in that classroom, the ceiling is hanging by a thread. I saw that this was the students’ and teachers’ everyday reality, and it became one of those moments when I was angry enough to decide to take action. 

My initial plan was to build a classroom block that houses two classes before the rainy season comes at the end of April 2019. I began a crowdfunding campaign in February 2019 to raise money for the project. The campaign raised Naira 253,000 out of an initial fundraising goal of Naira 3,930,547.05. Since the fundraising target was not met, I reviewed the construction plan to identify a classroom block that could be renovated instead. Unfortunately, the principal had to demolish two very dilapidated classrooms to avoid collapse and injury to students during the rainy season. The Naira 253,000 raised so far is now being used to put a lintel and roof on a classroom block. We need an additional Naira 700,000 to put in a ceiling and re-plaster the classroom walls and floor bringing our fundraising goal to a total of Naira 953,000. The project uses local artisans to keep costs low.

The school has a new principal, a woman just like the one I met in October 2018 when I first visited. She also prioritized renovating the school facility on assuming duty, but is severely constrained by lack of funding. Let us remember that the children of Anglican Grammar School are the future leaders of Nigeria. While there may be many schools in Nigeria with the same problem, I believe that change always begins with one! Please join me to make a difference in this one school and encourage the students of Anglican Grammar School to stay in school and achieve their dreams.