CSR

Oyo Community avoid River Due to ‘Evil Spirit’

Residents of Aleelo Village in the Akufo area of Oyo State had ceased visiting the village’s only river due to fears of an ‘evil spirit,’ leading them to travel long distances for their water needs.

The residents also expressed their struggles in accessing clean drinking water, prompting them to trek several kilometers to nearby communities.

This issue was highlighted during the inauguration of a well donated by Namatai Tembo, a student from the IITA International School in Ibadan.

Village Head Musliu Olabanji also noted that prior to the installation of the well, the villagers had no reliable source of potable water.

Akindele Olatundun, a leader among the women in the village, emphasized that the newly donated well would significantly ease their hardships.

She remarked that the well’s water would enhance residents of Aleelo Village daily lives and also benefit neighboring communities.

Olatundun expressed gratitude to the donor while urging the Oyo State Government and other charitable individuals to provide boreholes to improve the community’s access to clean water.

Earlier, Tembo shared that her motivation to assist rural communities with water access began in Grade 3.

By Grade 5, she aimed to establish a borehole for such communities, though that effort fell short due to high costs. Instead, they provided buckets and a water tank, but Tembo felt this was insufficient before completing her primary education.

“I aspired to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those desperately in need of water,” Tembo explained.

After thorough searching, she found Aleelo Village, which truly required water support. With her parents’ help and contributions from others, she successfully donated the well to the community.

Tembo expressed her joy at realizing her long-held dream to provide essential water resources to those in need.

Shepherd Timothy, Head of IITA International School, Ibadan, stated that student projects like Tembo’s encourage independent thinking beyond academic learning.

He noted that the initiative would positively impact both the local community and the wider world.

Project Coordinator Edith Ekun added that the initiative allows students to take ownership of their learning, encouraging them to conduct research and explore solutions on their own without relying solely on teachers for information.