By Jude Njoku

With new housing estates springing up almost on a daily basis, the Mowe – Ofada axis is unarguably one of the fastest developing neighbourhoods in Ogun State today.

But the villagers have been depressed by the poor state of the local elementary educational institution in the area. No wonder, they were all smiles recently when one of the private estate developers in the area, Messrs Propertymart Real Estate Investment Limited undertook to rebuild the African Church Primary School in Lisokun, Orile Igbehin Village, Owode Egba.

Prior to the company’s intervention, one of the two main classroom blocks in the school which was established in 1929, had completely broken down with parts collapsed and unusable.

Propertymart Real Estate Investment Limited replaced one of the dilapidated structures with an ultra-modern block, renovated the other block and put in place a borehole facility to serve the entire community.

The project entailed the construction of a block of six classrooms, made up of the headmistress’ office, eight toilets (two for staff and three each for boys and girls), headmistress’ secretary’s office, staff office as well as furniture and landscaping of the entire surrounding.

The company repainted and refurbished another block (two classrooms and some offices) that was likewise dilapidated but still standing. Governor Ibikunle Amosun who commissioned the facilities stated that Propertymart had shown that, besides contributing to the development of the neighbourhood via the various housing estates being built, it is also interested in the well-being of the host communities.

The model school built by Propertymart

The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Taiwo Adeoluwa, noted that “this noble gesture is in tandem with our development programme, of which education takes a focal point”.

“ The construction and handing over of this project is a confirmation of the belief of the private sector in our administration,” he said, and enjoined other private sector players to emulate Propertymart.

According to him, “Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS) is not just about donation, but also involves building a mutual and significant relationship with the host community. We will forever be appreciative of genuine efforts being made by committed developers like Propertymart towards uplifting the state.”

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr Segun Odubela, said, the Ibikinle Amosun administration places priority on qualitative and affordable education.

Propertymart is developing estates like Palms Garden, Mainland Garden and Citi Park Estate within the fast-growing vicinity. The firm’s chairman, Egbeyemi Sultan Abdul-Hafiz told newsmen that the initiative was informed by the need to put something back into the society.

“This is in line without our CSR to transform the lives of people not just within our estates, but also extending it to its environs. It is a way of appreciating our immediate community,” he said. He claimed that the firm is the first real estate outfit in the country’s history to embark on such a CRS project.

“Such gestures have always been linked with oil firms but not a real estate establishment and we are proud to say that we are the first to embark on this noble journey, which also entails rural electrification project as we have extending high voltage electric cables and poles from the Shagamu Interchange down the road to needy communities.”

The school project is a way of encouraging residents of our estate to be part of the public. By upgrading the public school around here, they are encouraged to send their kids to these public schools and not just ones within the estates. We are setting a standard as regards what public schools should be because we design and build to the highest standards.

Propertymart’s Managing Director, Mr. Adesope Adeyinka noted that the real estate sector is growing rapidly in Ogun State.

“For Ogun State, the real estate sector is growing and as a result we cannot afford to introduce stringent policies like Lagos State, otherwise the growth will be retarded. However, critical planning and proper coordination are required to avoid haphazard development,” he said.

He called on the State government to “consider a light rail from Abeokuta and Ijebu-Ode to Lagos enroute the Shagamu Interchange to further open up economic activities in Ogun State, maximising the advantage of its proximity to Lagos.”