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.

The intervention, carried out through the Royal Iwere Foundation (RIF), aims to improve educational facilities in the riverine community and has replaced school infrastructure that had deteriorated after years of neglect.

The previously dilapidated school had been affected by leaking roofs and deteriorating classroom structures. The renovation has now added several facilities, including staff quarters, furniture, solar power, potable water, and a Love Garden.

At the commissioning ceremony, Olori Atuwatse III said the project demonstrated the Warri Kingdom’s commitment to education and its willingness to support communities where children face limited 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 said the Love Garden was designed to serve purposes beyond food production, explaining that it would give pupils practical skills while helping them develop values that could contribute to 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.

The Queen Consort also emphasised the importance of community ownership in ensuring that the facilities remain properly maintained. She urged residents to see the school as a 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.

Chief Frederick Edegbele, a United States-based Itsekiri leader, praised the royal couple for undertaking the intervention and appealed to corporate organisations to support similar community development efforts.

“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 development as life-changing and recalled the poor condition of the school before the intervention, particularly its leaking roofs and deteriorating structures.

The Headmaster of Ologbosere Primary School, Mr. Anthony Omashola, said several appeals had previously been made to the government for assistance, but those efforts did not produce the needed intervention 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.

With the refurbishment completed, the school is expected to offer pupils and teachers a safer and more suitable environment for teaching and learning. The additional facilities are also intended to promote practical education and improve the welfare of the wider school community.

The royal couple further supported the Bobi community through financial donations, giving N2 million to the community and another N1.5 million to its youth body.

Residents expressed appreciation for the donations and commended the Olu and Olori for their investment in education and human development, describing the intervention as a major boost for the riverine community.

Source Leadership.ng