BY Jemilat Nasiru
The 1985 set of Queen’s College has renovated the school’s dining hall facilities following the recent epidemic outbreak which claimed the lives of three students.
Speaking at the inauguration of the facilities on Saturday, Temitayo Okunoren-Makindipe, president, OGQC1985, said the plan had been on the table before the epidemic broke out.
According to her, the initiative was part of activities lined up to restore the college’s lost glory.
“We had actually decided to renovate the water-treatment plant and we were about signing the agreement when the epidemic broke out; so, we had to pull back,” Okunoren-Makindipe said.
“After the incident, our national president, Prof. Frances Ajose, sent messages for us to come to the school’s aid. We raised an amount and she advised us on what our funds could cover.
“We then selected the dining renovation as our set’s project because it directly impacts on pupils’ hygiene and living conditions. We have also voted an amount to support the maintenance of the facilities.”
Ajose, who also spoke at the inauguration, said the renovation was a necessity to avert a re-occurrence of the disaster.
She blamed the government for “failing to live up to its responsibilities”, saying “during my time, there was no need for the alumni to do so much because the government was alive to its responsibilities”.
“But they have reneged on their promises and old students must step in,” Ajose said.
“We have raised about N30m for many projects in the last four months and old students keep calling in to donate more.”
Meanwhile, Adamu Adamu, minister of education, says his ministry has launched a fresh investigation into the deaths of the students, in order to identify “those responsible” for the tragedy.
This followed an extensive investigation into the school’s affair by TheCable, in partnership with the Cable Newspaper Journalism Foundation (CNJF).
Vivian Osuinyi, 13, Bithia Itulua, 12, and Praise Sodipo,14, died of complications from gastroenteritis, which they contracted from drinking contaminated water at the school.
The students all died between February and March 2017.
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