Olu Of Warri, Olori Commission Refurbished School In Delta Community

The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, and his wife, Her Majesty Olori Atuwatse III, have commissioned a refurbished six-classroom block at Ologbosere Primary School in Bobi, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, in an intervention aimed at improving education in the riverine community.

The project, executed under the Royal Iwere Foundation (RIF), has transformed the once-dilapidated school, which had suffered years of neglect, leaking roofs and deteriorating classroom structures.

The intervention includes a staff quarters, furniture, solar-powered electricity, potable water and a Love Garden designed to enhance learning and improve the welfare of pupils and teachers.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Olori Atuwatse III said the project reflected the Warri Kingdom’s commitment to education and its determination to intervene in communities where children lacked access to quality learning facilities.

“As a kingdom, we understand that education is paramount. That is why we decided to refurbish this school, and we hope this will be the first of many projects across our riverine communities where children are deprived of quality education because of poor facilities,” she said.

She explained that the Love Garden was introduced not only to support food security but also to expose pupils to practical skills and values that could prepare them for responsible adulthood.

“The Love Garden addresses food security because the children can grow their own food. It also teaches entrepreneurship, patience and integrity, helping them understand that what they plant is what they harvest. These are qualities that will prepare them to become better leaders tomorrow,” the Queen Consort said.

Olori Atuwatse III stressed that community ownership would be critical to preserving the facilities, urging residents to regard the school as their collective responsibility.

“We are integrating the community into this project. Once the people take ownership, it is no longer our school but their own, and that is how it will be preserved,” she added.

A United States-based Itsekiri leader, Chief Frederick Edegbele, commended the royal couple for the intervention and called on corporate organisations to support similar community development initiatives.

“His Majesty has shown us the direction to follow. We are fortunate to have a visionary king who has demonstrated the path to developing our communities, and I encourage corporate bodies to support this noble cause,” Edegbele said.

The Secretary of Bobi Community, Barrister Johnson Boyo, described the project as life-changing, recalling that the school had previously suffered from leaking roofs and deteriorating structures.

The Headmaster of Ologbosere Primary School, Mr. Anthony Omashola, said repeated appeals to the government for intervention had not yielded results until the royal couple stepped in.

“Today, we have a befitting learning environment with solar power, running water and staff quarters. This is a dream come true for our community,” Boyo said.

The refurbished school is expected to provide pupils and teachers with a safer and more conducive environment for teaching and learning, while the additional facilities are intended to support practical education and improve the overall welfare of the school community.

Beyond the school intervention, the royal couple donated N2 million to the Bobi community and another N1.5 million to the youth body.

Residents received the donations with appreciation and commended the Olu and Olori for investing in education and human development, describing the intervention as a significant boost to the riverine community.