For years, pupils of Ologbosere Primary School in Bobi, Warri North Local Council of Delta State, learned in classrooms with leaking roofs, deteriorating structures and inadequate facilities.

But on Tuesday, the school took on a new look as the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, and his wife, Her Majesty Olori Atuwatse III, commissioned a refurbished six-classroom block, giving pupils and teachers a renewed environment in which to learn and work.

The intervention, executed through the Royal Iwere Foundation (RIF), also provided staff quarters, furniture, solar-powered electricity, potable water and a Love Garden designed to support practical learning and improve the welfare of the school community.

For residents and community leaders, the transformation was more than a renovation. It was a restoration of hope for children in the riverine community who had endured years of neglect.

Speaking at the commissioning, Olori Atuwatse III said the project demonstrated the kingdom’s commitment to improving access to quality education in communities where children continue to face challenges arising from inadequate 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 explained that the Love Garden was introduced not only to promote food security but also to teach pupils practical values that could shape their future.

“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,” she said.

The Queen Consort also stressed the importance of community ownership in ensuring that the facilities remain useful for years to come.

“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.

A United States-based Itsekiri leader, Chief Frederick Edegbele, urged corporate organisations to support similar community development initiatives.

“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,” he said.

Secretary of Bobi Community, Johnson Boyo, recalled the condition of the school before the intervention, saying pupils and teachers had struggled with leaking roofs and deteriorating structures.

He described the renovation as a major relief for the community.

“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.

The Headmaster of Ologbosere Primary School, Anthony Omashola, also described the intervention as life-changing, noting that repeated appeals for government intervention had yielded little result before the royal couple stepped in.

Beyond the school project, the royal couple donated N2 million to the Bobi community and N1.5 million to the youth body.

The donations were received with appreciation by residents, who said the intervention had brought renewed hope to the community and demonstrated the impact that investment in education and human development could have on children in riverine communities.