FROM MURKY WELL TO MODERN BOREHOLE: HEADMISTRESS, PTA CHAIR, OFFICIALS HAIL OLIVE GRANGE AS THREE-YEAR WATER MISSION ENDS IN TRIUMPH

Joy erupted at St. Joseph’s CAC Nursery and Primary School, Ikere-Ekiti, on Thursday as the Olive Grange Foundation for Children and Community Empowerment inaugurated a modern borehole facility, officially closing the curtain on a three-year campaign to deliver clean drinking water to schools across the State.

The journey began at Baptist School, Igede-Ekiti in 2024, moved to St. John Anglican Nursery/Primary School in Ise-Ekiti in 2025, and has now reached its final destination in Ikere-Ekiti.

Dr. Aderonke Osungborun, Executive Director of the Foundation, reflected on the overarching vision of the initiative, highlighting the vital link between hydration and human progress. She stated that access to clean and safe water is essential to good health, education, and a better quality of life, expressing hope that the project would benefit not only pupils and staff but also the wider community for many years to come.

She affirmed the Foundation’s continued commitment to doing much more in Ekiti and its environs and extended special thanks to donors who contributed immensely to the project’s completion.

The Ikere-Ekiti execution required pushing past distinct environmental obstacles.

Project Supervisor Moyinoluwa Ogundowole pointed out that the region’s tough, rocky terrain historically restricted safe water access. She explained that the new setup was strategically engineered to offer a reliable alternative to unsafe sources, steer children away from unhealthy sugary drinks, and ease daily routines for both students and local residents. She further charged the school administration to prioritise robust maintenance to preserve the asset.

Programme Officer Esther Ademoroti revealed that preliminary evaluations showed the school’s previous water source was entirely unfit for consumption, stressing that the new intervention directly addresses this health hazard.

The transformation has come as a massive relief for the school leadership. Headmistress Bosede Adamolekun remembered how the institution previously relied on an erosion-polluted well that turned murky during rainy periods, forcing pupils to hunt for water off-campus or depend on sachet water. She described the Foundation’s decision to provide a borehole as a welcome relief and an answered prayer, noting that pupils now arrive at school with empty water bottles because they are confident of having access to clean and safe drinking water throughout the day.

Assistant Headmistress Oyenike Ojo and PTA Chairman Adekala Adeleye echoed her remarks, emphasising that the upgrade fundamentally improves daily hygiene and institutional well-being.

The commissioning drew powerful endorsements from key public and civil sector figures who lauded the Foundation for augmenting state-level development goals. Dr. Mary Adeyanju, Ekiti State Coordinator for the Society for Water and Sanitation, emphasized that reliable water supplies successfully curb waterborne ailments, boost attendance, and elevate academic performance.

Mr. Edward Oluwayomi, speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities, applauded the charity’s efforts and recommended setting up a specialised maintenance committee for the facility.

Comrade Timothy Olasunkani Idowu, Chairperson of the Coalition of Ekiti Civil Society Organisations, praised the project as a textbook example of how civil groups successfully fill vital community gaps to back government initiatives.

The day’s highlights concluded on a heartwarming note through the words of the school’s head girl, who expressed delight that the school now has beautiful and clean water, praising the colour and the multiple openings that allow many students to fetch water from the taps simultaneously, and offering blessings to Olive Grange.

Olive Grange Foundation remains fully dedicated to expanding its humanitarian footprint across Ekiti State, fostering healthier learning environments, and securing sustainable water resources for future generations.