The management of Wisdom Gate International School in Eligbolo, near Port Harcourt, has appealed to the Rivers State Government to lift the suspension placed on the school following the death of a two-year-old pupil.
The victim, Wynnie Akakue, reportedly died after sustaining injuries when a bookshelf fell on her while she was asleep in a classroom on March 17. Her parents, Dr Iasuaka Akakue and Mrs Chinyere Akakue, had accused the school of attempting to cover up the circumstances surrounding the incident and demanded justice.
In response to the public outcry, the state government ordered the indefinite closure of the school. The Commissioner for Education, Peters Nwagor, stated that the institution would remain shut until all issues related to the incident are thoroughly investigated and resolved.
However, the school’s proprietress, Toyon Obikoya, described the closure as unexpected and appealed for understanding from both the government and the bereaved family. She said the management shares in the family’s grief and has made several attempts to reach them through community and religious leaders.
According to her, representatives of the school visited the family’s hometown in Tai, Ogoni Kingdom, and also travelled to Etche in efforts to express condolences and open communication, stressing that the gestures were not intended to intimidate the family.
Obikoya added that the matter is now before the court, assuring that the school would cooperate fully with investigations.
Meanwhile, some parents of pupils expressed concern over the continued shutdown, saying it has disrupted their children’s education and affected teachers’ livelihoods. One parent, identified as Cynthia, described the incident as tragic but appealed for compassion, noting that the closure has placed significant emotional and financial strain on families.
Other parents echoed similar sentiments, urging the government to consider the broader impact of the closure while allowing due process to take its course.
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