Hidden in the heart of Ibadan, the premises of Eleyele Secondary School, Ibadan stand as a symbol of resilience amid decay. Established in 1980, the school has watched time and neglect chip away at its foundations. Now, more than four decades later, the institution finds itself in desperate need of intervention as its infrastructure groans under years of wear and abandonment.
The Nigeria Education News team paid a visit to the school this week, where the signs of infrastructural decline were not only visible but alarming. Cracked walls, leaking roofs, broken windows, and sagging classroom floors paint a troubling picture of the environment in which hundreds of students attempt to learn daily.
A top official of the school, who chose to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the matter, broke the silence in a candid conversation with our correspondents. “Our school is collapsing before our eyes,” he said quietly, standing near a classroom with no doors and half its roof missing. “The passion is here. The teachers are dedicated, and the students are eager. But look around – how can learning thrive in this kind of environment?”
While acknowledging the strides made by Governor Seyi Makinde in revamping education in various parts of the state, the official urged the administration not to forget Eleyele Secondary School. “We are proud of the Governor’s commitment to education,” he stated, “but this school deserves a place on that priority list. We are not asking for luxury, just the basics – strong walls, safe classrooms, a modern library, and learning materials.”
Inside one of the old science laboratories, broken stools and dusty shelves told their own story. Equipment is either outdated or non-existent, forcing students to rely more on imagination than on practical learning. “We teach Chemistry with no reagents, Physics with no electricity, and Biology without specimens,” the official explained. “It’s a painful irony.”
Another pressing concern is the absence of a functional library. The current room designated for that purpose contains a few scattered textbooks from the early 2000s. According to the school’s leadership, a modern, well-equipped library could transform learning outcomes and fuel the intellectual potential of its student population.
The call for help does not stop at the government’s doorstep. Alumni of the school, many of whom are believed to be thriving across various sectors of society, were passionately appealed to. “This is where your journey began,” said the official. “You carry the name of this school wherever you go. Now is the time to give back – not in words, but in bricks, books, and support.”
Despite the grim situation, there is no shortage of hope among the staff. Teachers continue to deliver lessons under trees and in damaged classrooms, driven by a deep sense of purpose. “We believe in these children,” said another teacher who preferred not to be named. “We just wish someone believed in us enough to fix this place.”
For now, Eleyele Secondary School waits — for action, for attention, and for a commitment that goes beyond policy speeches. The cracks in its buildings mirror the cracks in the system that allowed a school to reach this state.
“This school is not just a structure,” the anonymous official concluded. “It’s a history, a future, and a lifeline. If we lose it, we lose much more than just classrooms. We lose generations of potential.”
As the bell rang for the next period, a group of students hurried into a room with no ceiling, their feet splashing through puddles from the last rainfall. The school continues to function, not because it is equipped to do so, but because the spirit within refuses to collapse — even when the buildings do.
