Tinubu: Sanwo-Olu’s Tolu Schools Project reflects Renewed Hope Agenda Goals

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to expanding access to quality education and equipping young Nigerians with practical skills, saying the remodelled Tolu Schools Complex in Ajegunle aligns with the core objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Tinubu made this known during the unveiling of the upgraded education facility in Lagos in Thursday, where he was represented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

He described the project as a strategic intervention aimed at strengthening human capital development and positioning young Nigerians for a competitive global economy.

The President noted that the large-scale complex, which can accommodate over 20,000 students, was designed to provide inclusive access to quality education in a conducive learning environment, regardless of students’ backgrounds.

“Through our Renewed Hope Agenda, we are committed to ensuring that every child has access to quality learning, that our schools equip students with practical skills, and that our young people are prepared to compete and thrive in a fast-emerging modern economy,” he said.

He stressed that sustained investment in education infrastructure remained critical to building a workforce capable of driving innovation, creating jobs and ensuring long-term national development, adding that such initiatives would help bridge inequality gaps in densely populated and underserved communities.

Tinubu described the Tolu Schools Complex as a transformative project and a benchmark for future educational infrastructure across the country, noting that it compares favourably with global standards.

In his remarks, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu characterised the project as a forward-looking investment tailored for 21st-century learners, combining academic excellence with practical and technological training.

He said, “Your presence here today, Mr. President, as you commission the fruits of a vision you helped plant, is a powerful reminder that leadership is a continuum, that good governance builds upon itself, and that when leaders at every level work together, the impossible becomes achievable.

“We have transformed the Tolu Schools Complex into the largest integrated educational community in West Africa – a “school city” that now comprises 36 schools: 5 primary schools, 15 junior secondary schools, and 16 senior secondary schools, providing a complete educational ladder from foundation to the threshold of higher learning.

“To tackle overcrowding and create a more conducive learning environment, we have delivered 12 new classroom blocks, each containing 18 classrooms. In addition, 24 existing school buildings have been comprehensively rehabilitated, restoring them into safe, habitable and inspiring spaces for teaching and learning.

“But we did not stop at classrooms, because education today must do more than prepare children to pass examinations. It must prepare them to thrive in a changing world. That is why we have built a four-storey vocational and skills acquisition centre with dedicated workshops, a facility deliberately designed to bridge the gap between academic instruction and practical competence. We want our young people to leave school not only with certificates, but with capability. Not only with ambition, but with employable and entrepreneurial skills.

“We also have a Central Laboratory and ICT Complex that signals the future we see for Lagos. Within this hub are dedicated Physics, Chemistry and Biology laboratories, each able to accommodate 200 students at a time, creating room for scale, experimentation and serious scientific learning. There is also a state-of-the-art ICT and Robotics hub, where students will be able to receive scheduled specialist training and develop the digital fluency that this century demands.

“This matters greatly to us, because the world our children are growing into will reward not only literacy and knowledge, but adaptability and innovation.”

Chairman of the Lagos State Special Committee on Rehabilitation of Public Schools, Hakeem Smith, said the project overcame structural and environmental challenges to emerge as a modern and inclusive hub for teaching and learning.

The facility integrates primary, junior and secondary schools within a single environment and includes ICT hubs, science laboratories, vocational training centres, and specialised structures for physically challenged students.

The event also featured the inauguration of a remodelled sports facility in Ajegunle, renamed the Bola Tinubu Mini Stadium, aimed at boosting grassroots sports and youth engagement.

Tinubu further unveiled the Fresh Food Industrial Hub in Abijo, Ibeju-Lekki, noting that it would complement investments in education by enhancing job creation and expanding economic opportunities across Lagos State.

Dignitaries at the event included Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu; Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oluwole; and Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, among others.