In a renewed push to strengthen public education infrastructure in Nigeria, Vcare for Development Foundation (VCDF), in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and with support from Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited (SEEPCO), has completed the rehabilitation of Obele Community Senior and Junior Secondary Schools in Surulere.

Delivered on March 26, 2026, the project addresses longstanding challenges facing many public schools across the country, including overcrowded classrooms and inadequate sanitation, which continue to impact learning outcomes. The Obele intervention stands as a practical example of how partnerships between government, development organisations, and the private sector can drive meaningful change in the education sector.

Implemented under VCDF’s Model School Initiative (MSI), the project reflects a growing focus on collaborative, impact-driven solutions to Nigeria’s infrastructure deficits in education.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, described the initiative as consistent with the state’s broader development agenda. He noted that improved learning environments are critical to enhancing student performance, well-being, and retention, while commending VCDF and its partners for supporting the vision of safe and inclusive schools.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Abisola Dokunmu-Adegbite, urged students and school administrators to ensure proper use and maintenance of the upgraded facilities to sustain the project’s impact.
VCDF’s National Programme Manager, James Olabi Odey, said the intervention forms part of a wider effort to expand access to quality education nationwide. He revealed that the Model School Initiative has reached over 28,000 beneficiaries across Lagos, Delta, and Akwa Ibom states, highlighting the importance of private sector involvement in advancing community-focused development.

At the senior secondary school, the project included the renovation of 14 classrooms, 13 offices, and storage spaces; construction and equipping of three science laboratories for Physics, Chemistry, and Biology; replacement of roofing on a one-storey classroom block; provision of 150 laboratory stools and 100 student desks; and the construction of sanitation facilities and walkways.

Similarly, the junior secondary school benefitted from the renovation of eight classrooms and 10 offices, a library upgrade with study cubicles and shelving, provision of desks and teachers’ furniture, installation of ceiling fans, and improved water and sanitation systems.

The initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4, which promotes inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

Chairman of Surulere Local Government, Hon. Sulaimon Bamidele Yusuf, alongside other stakeholders, emphasised that while infrastructure improvements are vital, long-term success will depend on effective maintenance, community ownership, and accountability.
Community leaders and education stakeholders described the project as a significant transformation from previously poor conditions, noting its potential to improve both teaching and learning outcomes, as well as contribute to broader social and economic development.

As Lagos continues to expand, the Obele school rehabilitation project highlights the critical role of strategic partnerships in building resilient and inclusive education systems.

Other dignitaries at the event included Olusegun Osinaike, Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary, Education District IV, and Mrs Florence Bolodeoku, Chairman of the Surulere Chapter of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), alongside stakeholders from government, the education sector, and the host community.