By Debo Adefisan
Dateline: Saturday, June 24, 2023 at about 4.42pm, the development of the Borehole sunk to pump 10,000 Liters of water per day for use in all areas within St. John’s Grammar School, ILE-IFE was concluded.
Water was pumped non stop for 45 minutes as a proof that this well will not dry up either intermittently or ‘sine die’ like that of the 2 Manual pump boreholes earlier provided by the Government.
You will recall that we drank water from a Concrete underground water reservoir as Students of this great School. Our Toilet was a pit system where water was not supplied.
We used improvised devices to fetch water from the reservoir in front of our Library and some of our Seniors confiscated such Water for their use????
The need for Water in such an expanse of human community cannot be over emphasized.
Reverend Father Fabian Cloutier dug a Well in front of ‘Baba Agric’ Quarters which was fitted with a surface pump and reticulated using booster pumps to places within the School Compound. Three of the Eight Staff Quarters and the Adminstrative building initially had water reticulated to their closets. Mr. A. T Aremu, Mrs. Harrinder Sutton and Mr. Raymond Babatunde all enjoyed water in their Quarters until a certain time in 1979 when there was a disruption that couldn’t be easily addressed. Water became an essential commodity within the School and the Well was opened. Oke Atan community as at then had very few productive wells suitable for potability. So, they flocked to St. John’s to fetch Water in droves, polluting the well, driving conflicts and misgivings until locks were fitted on the Well again. That Well does not dry up either in the dry or raining season but it is largely unsuitable for drinking.
This was the situation in St. John’s Grammar School until Chief Dr. Olusola Oyeyemi intervened by drilling a Borehole currently in use in the School. The challenge of the noble effort by Dr. Oyeyemi is the hard igneous rock on which the entire school land sits. According to the reports of a recent Hydro geological Survey conducted in the School, the soil overburden is a mere 22 to 23meter while the real aquifer layer rests at 135meters. Below the overburden is about 112meter of Rock before Water. Hence, the current Borehole uses a relay switch which pumps water for about 7minutes, switches off and restore. The water pumped is insufficient for our current demands which includes
1. 2000 Liters dedicated to the multifaceted modern toilet facilities provided by the 1980 Set.
2. Continuous use in the Science Laboratories.
3. Servicing the 3 Toilets and 1 bathroom in the Admin building.
4. Continuous use in the 4 inhabited Staff Quarters.
5. 1000 Liters for irrigation purposes on our all year round vegetable farm during the dry season.
6. Hand wash Covid 19 prevention point at the Gatehouse and other points within the School compound.
Dr. Festus Odunayo Oshoba, the National President, SJOBA considered the necessity of this need and gave it a priority in the National Executive Council and JNWC consideration of the 2023 projects. According to him, ” Water is life. Once we have a dependable source of water in that school, every facet of human activities will be enhanced”.
In the same spirit, Dr. Oshoba went ahead to make available funds for the drilling and development of the Borehole. Total cost of the 135meters deep Borehole, Pump and Cable, Pressure pipes and attendant expenses estimated at about N1. 3m were borne by him, fully paid as at yesterday when water was pumped non stop for 45 minutes after the debris from the depth had been evacuated.
” I want to be remembered for solving the Water problems in St. John’s. Generation yet unborn would drink this water and remember that a certain Dr. Festus Odunayo Oshoba passed through here”.
Can we say more?
The next phase of this work is the erection of Stanchion, hoisting of the Water tank, reticulation to all aforementioned places within the School and Voila! A brand new water sufficient St. John’s Grammar School.
It is a beautiful day for all of us that we have the opportunity to improve on the legacy bequeathed us by our most beloved Reverend Father Fabian Cloutier.
What then are we waiting for? Sets, Individuals, Chapters can etch their names in gold as we are moving forward with our 2023 Capital projects.
Adopt any of our Projects, pay your subscription or donate substantively. The Roll of Honor will preserve your name for posterity.
Congratulations great Johnians.
Ut diligatis invicem!!!
DEBO ADEFISAN
GENERAL SECRETARY.