The management of Wisdom Gate International School, located in Eligbolo near Port Harcourt, has appealed to the state government to lift the suspension of its academic activities following the tragic death of a two-year-old pupil.
The pupil, Wynnie Akakue, died after a bookshelf reportedly fell on her while she was asleep in the classroom on March 17. The incident sparked public outrage, with her parents accusing the school of attempting to cover up the circumstances surrounding her death and demanding justice.
In response, the Rivers State Government ordered the closure of the school. The Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, stated that the institution would remain shut until a full investigation is concluded. However, the school’s proprietress, Toyon Obikoya, described the closure as painful and appealed for compassion, noting that the decision is affecting other pupils and staff.
News: Rivers State Empowers 520 Women with Skills Acquisition, Business Support
She stressed that the school remains deeply saddened by the incident and has made efforts to reach out to the bereaved family through community and religious leaders. Some parents of pupils also expressed concern over the prolonged shutdown, saying it has disrupted their children’s education and left teachers without income.
While acknowledging the grief of the deceased’s family, they urged the government to consider reopening the school. The management maintained that the matter is now before the court and assured authorities of full cooperation with ongoing investigations.
