Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu will commission the Tolu Schools Complex in Ajegunle on Thursday. The complex, located in the Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area, spans 11.73 hectares and houses 36 public schools—31 secondary and five primary—serving about 20,000 pupils. Previously in various stages of disrepair, the schools have undergone full redevelopment after 42 years since their establishment under Lagos State's first civilian governor, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande. The project was supervised by the Rehabilitation of Public Schools in Lagos State initiative.
The redeveloped complex includes modern infrastructure such as a standard football pitch with race tracks, a multipurpose sports court, a fire service station, a health centre, perimeter fencing, and security gates. Facilities for sustainability include a water harvester, biodigester, and solar panels to ensure consistent power supply. Two new buildings equipped with vertical lifts have been constructed for People Living with Disability (PLD). A vocational school offers training in tailoring, fashion design, masonry, plumbing, and craftsmanship. An ICT hub and central laboratory are included to support science and robotic engineering education. The Lagos State Infrastructure Asset Management Agency (LASIAMA) will oversee maintenance to prevent future decay.
Babajide Sanwo-Olu is leveraging the Tolu Schools Complex not just as an education project but as a political statement in Ajegunle, a densely populated and historically underserved community. By commissioning 36 schools in one go and showcasing modern facilities, he frames his administration as delivering transformative governance where past governments only promised. The scale of the project—serving 20,000 pupils—and the inclusion of lifts for People Living with Disability signal a deliberate effort to brand Lagos State as inclusive and forward-thinking.
This redevelopment comes after 42 years of neglect since the Jakande era, underscoring how infrastructure in poor urban communities often waits generations for renewal. The fact that all buildings were in various stages of dilapidation before Sanwo-Olu's intervention reveals a long-standing gap in public investment. Yet the presence of solar panels, a biodigester, and an ICT hub suggests a shift toward self-sustaining, tech-enabled public services—a model that could redefine urban education if replicated.
For residents of Ajegunle and similar informal settlements, the complex means more than new classrooms; it offers tangible access to vocational training and digital literacy in areas where unemployment and underemployment are high. Students now have pathways into masonry, plumbing, and robotics—skills that bridge both traditional and modern economies.
This project fits a broader pattern: Lagos increasingly using high-visibility, bundled infrastructure rollouts to reshape public perception, particularly in swing areas ahead of elections.
