The students of the Government Secondary School, Ilorin yesterday took to the street to protest the negligence of the state government towards their welfarism.
The student who barricaded the major highway in old Jebba road, Ilorin expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of their welfarism.
Speaking with journalists during the protest, one of the senior student who is on “exchange program” but craved anonymity said, “During school session, we don’t have good food, no portable water, it has been over a year we last have electricity, Now that they should take us home, they said the state does not have money, and they have stopped feeding us as well, how do they expect us to survive?” The Hausa student questioned and continued dishing out instructions to his juniors.
Speaking with Another student, who identified himself as Umar Ibrahim, he said, “We are suffering! The whole country should come to our aid”
“Kwaran students go to our state and they got taken care of, they have the most quality education and the state government bring them promptly, they have no reason to complain but look at us here, instead we did not even complain, but we have to take to the street for government to hear our pleas, we are suffering!”, He concluded.
“No good food, no electricity for the last one year in a school environment, imagine? No security, if not for the old students intervention, we probably will have been taking lectures under the tree now but the state government is doing nothing on it. What type of state is this? They don’t do this in my state.”
Government Secondary School (GSS), Ilorin, Kwara State is the oldest post-primary institution in the state and among the oldest secondary schools in the country. Established in October 1914, after the British amalgamated the Northern and Southern Protectorates to form what is today known as Nigeria, the school celebrated her 100 years of existence in 2014.
Replete with a rich history of excellence, the school has produced many prominent Nigerians in all walks of life – politics, academics, military and business, among others. It now runs a full boarding system and serves as a centre of unity in diversity, with students from all the geo-political zones of the country, courtesy of her exchange programme.
Prominent among the school’s alumni are the first military governor of Kwara State, Col. David Bamigboye, a former governor of Kwara State, late Governor Mohammed Lawal, former Governor Cornelius Adebayo, former Under Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, former Senator Mohammed Ahmed, former Chairman of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Chief Ganiyu Ogunleye, Senator Nuru Abatemi from Kogi State, Senator Simeon Ajibola, a former senator representing Kwara South, former Special Adviser to the President on the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), Dr. Tunji Olagunju, Engr. Lanre Shagaya, The new Vice-Chancellor, University of of Ilorin, Prof. Andulkareem Age, Major Kazali Akandi and Air Vice-Marshal Femi Sulaiman among others.
During those days, it was reputed to be one of the best in the country and discipline is infused in the consciousness of every student. To attain her motto, ” No struggle, No success” students are made to commit themeselve to excellence.