Community Leaders, NGOs, Others Laud Customs for Rehabilitating Ife Girls High School

By Temitope Adebiyi

The decision of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to rehabilitate the infrastructure of Ife Girls High School, Modakeke, in Ife Local Government Area of Osun State under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, ‘Customs Cares,’ has drawn applause from community leaders,
Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs),
teachers, parents, and students of the area for opening doors to better education and reducing financial and environmental pressures on the parents and students of the school.

Adeniyi with others during the inspection

Speaking with Spynews, one the of youth leaders, Sesan Agboola and the secretary of the Agenda for Good Governance (AGOOG), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Sulaiman Daud praised the NCS under its Comptroller General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for its recent and enviable trade reforms and impactful social interventions in many communities across the country.

The AGOOG scribe said that they have reasons to celebrate the Service’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes, which he said, focus on education, healthcare, clean water access, and sports development, because “the initiative aims to reach millions of Nigerians and directly benefits students and underprivileged groups in areas and regions where Customs formations operate,” Sulaiman said.

Principal of the school, Mrs. Akinremi Martina, also described the planned intervention as timely and impactful, expressing confidence that it would significantly improve learning conditions and reposition the school for greater academic achievements

The plan to rehabilitate the infrastructure of Ife Girls High School, in Ife Local Government Area of Osun State was announced by Adeniyi during his assessment visit to the school aimed at evaluating the scope of intervention required ahead of the commencement of rehabilitation works.

The visit formed part of ongoing efforts by the Service to identify and address critical needs in public institutions through its Customs Cares Initiative, with education remaining one of the programme’s priority areas.

Speaking during the inspection, the Comptroller General said the decision to intervene followed reports on the condition of the school and a firsthand assessment of its facilities.

“There is so much to be done here, and what I have come to do is a preliminary assessment of the scope of work required,” he said.

According to Adeniyi, the school, established over six decades ago, was once renowned for academic excellence and a disciplined learning culture but has suffered years of neglect that have adversely affected its facilities and learning environment.

He expressed concern over the state of classrooms, laboratories, sanitary facilities, and the library, noting that some sections of the school had become overgrown and unsafe for students.

The CGC assured that the proposed intervention would be carefully executed to avoid disrupting academic activities, adding that necessary approvals had been secured while consultations with relevant stakeholders were ongoing to ensure smooth implementation.

He also called on school authorities, parents, and members of the community to support efforts aimed at maintaining the facilities after rehabilitation, stressing that sustainable development requires collective responsibility.

“We are determined to contribute towards creating a conducive learning environment that will inspire students and support educational development,” he stated.

Providing a technical assessment of the facility, the Managing Director of Oak Builders Company, Engr. Kehinde Adeyimo, identified major structural concerns, including damaged perimeter fencing and encroached portions of the premises, which he said would require attention during the rehabilitation process.

He noted that the planned intervention is expected to improve the learning environment, strengthen security within the school, and contribute to the overall development of education in the community through the Customs Cares Initiative.