By Mustapha Salisu
A National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Abdulkareem Abdulrasheed, has renovated and furnished an abandoned classroom at Government Day Secondary School (GDSS), Kofai, in Ardo-Kola Local Government Area of Taraba State, as part of efforts to improve learning conditions for students.
The project, titled Hope Sits in Classroom, involved the renovation of a dilapidated classroom with cracked walls, a leaking roof, no ceiling and a deteriorating floor, which had rendered the facility unsuitable for teaching and learning.
Abdulkareem, an Education Biology graduate of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, who graduated with First Class Honours, said the initiative was inspired by his desire to contribute meaningfully to community development during his national service.
He explained that his decision followed an observation at the school, where some students were standing during lessons, others were sitting on windows, while those who managed to get seats were uncomfortable due to inadequate classroom facilities.
According to him, the situation was further compounded by the school’s limited infrastructure, which required primary school pupils to use the available classrooms in the morning, while secondary school students occupied the same facilities from afternoon until evening.
The project was also aimed at advancing access to quality education, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), which promotes inclusive and equitable quality education.
Following the renovation, the classroom was furnished with 25 chairs and desks, a white marker board, five packs of markers, three ink refills and a duster.
The corps member estimated that the intervention would directly benefit more than 100 students per term and over 1,000 students in the long run, while also providing a more conducive teaching environment for more than 11 subject teachers and other members of the school community.
Abdulkareem disclosed that the project idea was presented to Lagos-based non-governmental organisation, NaijaSolve, under its NYSC Impact Challenge initiative, through which it was selected for funding alongside 24 other project proposals from across the country.
He said NaijaSolve provided 80 per cent of the total project budget, while the remaining 20 per cent was contributed by the community, the beneficiary school and himself.
The project, which commenced in September and was completed in October 2026, was officially commissioned by the NYSC Taraba State Coordinator, Mr Ella Aji Williams, represented by the Assistant Director of Community Development Service (CDS), Mr Ajah Dickson.
Other dignitaries at the commissioning included the Local Government Inspector (LGI) of Ardo-Kola, Mr Eze Ikechukwu; the Vice Principal of GDSS Kofai, Mrs Naomi Bulus Gago, who represented the school principal, Mr Shago Mumini; teachers, students and fellow corps members.
Speaking on the sustainability of the intervention, Abdulkareem said the school management had pledged to maintain the facilities, including keeping the whiteboard in the principal’s office after school hours to prevent theft and ensure its continued use.
He expressed appreciation to NaijaSolve for supporting the initiative and investing in community-driven solutions, while acknowledging the contributions of the LGI, friends and other individuals who supported the project.
