Culled from Punch
Three children abandoned in a
boarding school in Abule-Iroko in the Ado-Odo Ota Local Government Area of Ogun
State are longing to meet their parents who have abandoned them for eight
years. When Punch Metro visited Solid
Model College, the children recounted their ordeal, noting that the absence of
their parents was affecting their studies.
boarding school in Abule-Iroko in the Ado-Odo Ota Local Government Area of Ogun
State are longing to meet their parents who have abandoned them for eight
years. When Punch Metro visited Solid
Model College, the children recounted their ordeal, noting that the absence of
their parents was affecting their studies.
Seun Adepegba, 14,Seyi, 10 and
Titilola, 13, had been severed from parental love and care since infanthood.
After waiting for eight years, they seemed to have relinquished all hopes of
reuniting with their parents.
Titilola, 13, had been severed from parental love and care since infanthood.
After waiting for eight years, they seemed to have relinquished all hopes of
reuniting with their parents.
It was learnt that their tale of
sorrow began in 2007 when their father, Mr Segun Adepegba, who had been
separated from their mother, enrolled them in the boarding school because he
could not afford to take care of them.
According to the proprietor of the
school, Mr Samuel Ayegbusi, Adepegba came to enroll them in his school on
September 24, 2007 with a promise to always check on them.
school, Mr Samuel Ayegbusi, Adepegba came to enroll them in his school on
September 24, 2007 with a promise to always check on them.
He said, “Mr. Adepegba told me his
wife had just left him and that he could not afford to take care of them, being
a jobless man. The children were very little. Seyi was two, while Titilola was
five.
wife had just left him and that he could not afford to take care of them, being
a jobless man. The children were very little. Seyi was two, while Titilola was
five.
“Mr Adepegba had pleaded with me
to accept them in the boarding school. Mr Adepegba’s sister promised to bear
the cost of their upkeep. They paid an initial N150, 000 for the three children
for the first term.”
to accept them in the boarding school. Mr Adepegba’s sister promised to bear
the cost of their upkeep. They paid an initial N150, 000 for the three children
for the first term.”
But according to the proprietor,
Adepegba never kept his promise. He said after the first term, the school
expected him to come and take his children home for holiday but he never showed
up until four years later. He said the school had expended over N7m on the
upkeep of the children since 2007.
Adepegba never kept his promise. He said after the first term, the school
expected him to come and take his children home for holiday but he never showed
up until four years later. He said the school had expended over N7m on the
upkeep of the children since 2007.
The proprietor said efforts to
reach the parents’ families had proved abortive, adding that calls to
Adepegba’s phones were not always answered.
reach the parents’ families had proved abortive, adding that calls to
Adepegba’s phones were not always answered.
He said, “Whenever we called him
and he realised who was talking on the phone, he would switch off his phones
and for the next two weeks, the numbers would not be available. When the school
contacted their father’s sisters, we were told that they had travelled out of
the country.
and he realised who was talking on the phone, he would switch off his phones
and for the next two weeks, the numbers would not be available. When the school
contacted their father’s sisters, we were told that they had travelled out of
the country.
“When we called one of them, we
were told that they had sent money to Mr Adepegba to defray the children’s
school fees and upkeep. But Mr. Adepegba has never come here to make any
payment since the initial deposit he made in 2007.”
were told that they had sent money to Mr Adepegba to defray the children’s
school fees and upkeep. But Mr. Adepegba has never come here to make any
payment since the initial deposit he made in 2007.”
According to the proprietor, taking
care of the children had further become cumbersome for him as one of them,
Titilayo, had started misbehaving. He recounted how Titilayo ran away from the
hostel twice without informing the school authority on the excuse that she was
going to look for her father.
care of the children had further become cumbersome for him as one of them,
Titilayo, had started misbehaving. He recounted how Titilayo ran away from the
hostel twice without informing the school authority on the excuse that she was
going to look for her father.
Ever since she was found, the
proprietor said the school had had to keep her in a room, under tight
surveillance, because she had vowed to run away to find her father.
proprietor said the school had had to keep her in a room, under tight
surveillance, because she had vowed to run away to find her father.
He said, “The school is not even
bothered by the cost of their upkeep. But anytime the school closed for holiday
and parents come around to take their children home, Titilayo would fall into a
sober mood and twice, she had run away from the hostel without informing
anyone. It was a resident who stopped her and brought her back to the school.
bothered by the cost of their upkeep. But anytime the school closed for holiday
and parents come around to take their children home, Titilayo would fall into a
sober mood and twice, she had run away from the hostel without informing
anyone. It was a resident who stopped her and brought her back to the school.
Some of the teachers, who spoke
with Punch Metro during the visit, said the absence of the children’s parents
was seriously affecting their studies. They said the appearance of their
parents would boost their academic performance.
with Punch Metro during the visit, said the absence of the children’s parents
was seriously affecting their studies. They said the appearance of their
parents would boost their academic performance.
While recounting their days with
their father, the children said he celebrated birthdays with them. They said
they had never met their mother.
their father, the children said he celebrated birthdays with them. They said
they had never met their mother.
Titilayo said, “We do not know who
our mother is. We grew up in Yaba, Lagos and all we remember is that there was
a woman that washed our clothes and took care of us until we came here. We knew
she was not our mother.”
our mother is. We grew up in Yaba, Lagos and all we remember is that there was
a woman that washed our clothes and took care of us until we came here. We knew
she was not our mother.”
Seyi, the youngest of the trio,
however, was an exception as she kept a cheerful look during the visit. Seyi,
who told our correspondent her dream was to become a medical doctor said,
“Although I have a faint memory of my father, I will like to see him. If he
comes today, I will ask him why he left us for so long.”
however, was an exception as she kept a cheerful look during the visit. Seyi,
who told our correspondent her dream was to become a medical doctor said,
“Although I have a faint memory of my father, I will like to see him. If he
comes today, I will ask him why he left us for so long.”
Seun added, “I don’t care how long
he has left us. I just want to see him. I really need to see him.” When Punch Metro called Adepegba on Thursday, his phones were switched off.
he has left us. I just want to see him. I really need to see him.” When Punch Metro called Adepegba on Thursday, his phones were switched off.
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