Beyond the Beats: The Decaying Reality of Baptist Day School, Odeomu

When Governor Ademola Adeleke assumed office, his campaign danced to the rhythm of “light and progress.” Yet, years into his administration, many rural and semi-urban communities in Osun State are finding that once the music stops, the reality on the ground remains starkly unchanged.

A prime example sits in Ayedaade Local Government Area: Baptist Day Primary School, Oke-Odo, Odeomu.

Founded in 1925, this historic institution has shaped generations of Osun citizens. Its bold yellow signboard proudly displays the motto: “Knowledge is Power.” But today, the physical state of the school sends a completely different message to its young pupils—one of abandonment, structural decay, and a severe lack of governmental accountability.

The Evidence on the Ground

Recent investigative visits and photographic evidence from May 2026 reveal an educational environment that is not only unconducive to learning but actively hazardous.

1. Compromised Roofing and Structural Hazards
The school’s main blocks feature roofs that are visibly peeling away. In several sections, the aluminum sheets have buckled, leaving structural woodwork completely exposed to seasonal rains. This is not just a cosmetic issue; water leakage inevitably weakens the building’s core foundation, leads to mold, and disrupts learning during the rainy season.

2. Dilapidated and Insanitary Facilities
The sanitary infrastructure at the school has completely broken down. The detached toilet facility stands in a state of advanced ruin—the paint is peeling away, structural beams are rotted and splitting apart, and the surrounding area is choked by weeds. A school without safe, dignified, and functioning sanitation facilities is a direct failure of basic educational standards.

3. Overgrown Premises and General Neglect
The school yard is heavily overgrown with tall grass and dense weeds, turning what should be a safe playground into a breeding ground for pests and reptiles. Mold stains darken the exterior walls of the classrooms, indicating a complete absence of routine maintenance or local government oversight.

Where is the “Osun Modernization” Budget Going?

The Adeleke administration has repeatedly touted its billions of Naira in budgetary allocations for the renovation of public schools and infrastructure across the state’s 30 Local Government Areas. However, the scene at Odeomu tells a different story.

While state resources are heavily funneled into high-profile urban road projects and media-friendly commissionings, grassroots educational institutions—the bedrock of rural development—are being left to rot.

The Accountability Question: If “Knowledge is Power,” why are the children of Odeomu being forced to seek knowledge in a dilapidated facility? Why has the Ministry of Education and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) overlooked a historic institution that has served Ayedaade LGA for over a century?

Conclusion: Time to Face the Music

A government cannot claim progress based solely on infrastructure built along main highways while rural classrooms crumble out of public sight. The dancing must stop, and the actual work of governance must begin.

The people of Odeomu, who voted for democratic dividends, deserve better than decaying walls and exposed roofs. AfterTheDance.ng calls on the Osun State Government, the Ministry of Education, and the Ayedaade Local Government leadership to immediately assess and fund the complete rehabilitation of Baptist Day Primary School.

The children of Osun State cannot learn in ruins. It is time for the Adeleke administration to deliver on its promises—not just on stage, but in the classrooms.