The Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) has upgraded 24 public schools across Lagos State with educational materials and infrastructure valued at ₦124.46 million, in a move aimed at strengthening inclusive education and improving learning conditions across the state.
The intervention, executed under the COWLSO School Community Project 3.0, covered 24 schools across the six education districts, including 12 primary inclusive schools and 12 secondary inclusive schools, reflecting a continued focus on addressing infrastructure gaps and supporting students with diverse learning needs.
In her keynote address, the First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, disclosed that the 2026 phase of the project involved an investment of ₦124,457,000 across the benefiting schools. She stated that the intervention included classroom renovation, provision of potable water, installation of perimeter fencing, equipping of laboratories and ICT centres, and the supply of essential learning materials tailored to inclusive education.
According to her, the initiative aligns with the Social Inclusion pillar of the THEMES Plus Agenda of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s administration, reaffirming the government’s commitment to ensuring equitable access to quality education for all children in the state.
Coordinator of the COWLSO Schools Committee and retired Permanent Secretary, Anike Adekanye, said the initiative underscores a deliberate commitment to inclusive education and improved learning environments. She explained that Project 3.0 commenced on July 17, 2024, following an engagement at Pacelli School for the Blind, and has since focused on addressing infrastructure deficiencies and supporting students with special needs.
Adekanye highlighted key interventions under the project, including renovation of classroom blocks at Sango Senior School in Agege and Ipakodo Primary School, reconstruction of a collapsed structure at Addo Primary School, provision of furniture at Ibeju Junior High School, and distribution of wheelchairs to Sabo School in Ikorodu. She added that the project also delivered upgrades to health facilities and water supply at LA Primary School, Iba, alongside the installation of learning equipment across beneficiary schools.
Chairman of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, Akeem Shittu, emphasised that every child possesses the ability to learn regardless of physical condition, stressing the importance of sustaining inclusive education initiatives. Similarly, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Jami’u Ayinde Balogun, commended COWLSO for its sustained interventions and urged students to make effective use of the resources provided, while also acknowledging the role of teachers in maintaining educational outcomes.
Items distributed at the event included generators, ovens, desks, chairs, school bags, first-aid kits, gas cookers, computers, wardrobes, televisions, fans, public-address systems, and vocational training equipment. District Six alone received 80 units of furniture, while specialised materials such as wheelchairs and assistive learning tools were provided for students with disabilities.
Beneficiary institutions include Ikeja Junior High School, LA Primary School Iba, Ipakodo Primary School, Addo Primary School, Ibeju Junior High School, Wesley School for the Hearing Impaired, Pacelli School for the Blind, State Junior Grammar School Surulere, and State Senior Grammar School Surulere, among others.
