Bisi Esuruosho, an Education Consultant and the organizer of the Beacon of Safety Awards in Lagos State, is facing public scrutiny for awarding 12 out of 25 “safety awards” to Chrisland Schools. Some school owners in Lagos, who wished to remain anonymous, have raised concerns about Esuruosho’s motivations, suspecting a self-serving agenda.
The awards ceremony, hosted by Bisi Esuruosho at the Civic Centre in Victoria Island two weeks ago, elicited mixed reactions. Chrisland Schools, including branches in Lekki, Ladipo Oluwole Ikeja, Victoria Garden City (VGC), Festac, Idimu, Ikeja, Opebi, and others, received a total of 12 awards.
This controversy stems from an incident earlier this year when a student from Chrisland Schools, Ikeja, named Whitney Adeniran, tragically passed away during the school’s inter-house sports activities at Agege Stadium. Allegedly, the incident occurred due to inadequate safety and health measures at the venue.
The outcome of the 2023 awards has sparked a heated debate, with parents and school owners cautioning the Lagos State government against endorsing potentially divisive and contentious award decisions. They have also called for an investigation into the process that led to Chrisland Schools receiving multiple safety awards, given the recent safety concerns associated with these schools.
An attendee of the awards event shared their perspective, saying, “I attended the Beacon of Safety Awards last week, and I was shocked to see Chrisland receive 12 awards. The school has been facing safety issues, so it raises questions about how Bisi Esuruosho arrived at this decision.”
Questioning the selection procedures, an anonymous parent asked, “What authority does Bisi Esuruosho have in deciding the awardees? What criteria were used? Out of the 5,000 approved and accredited private schools in Lagos, why did Chrisland Schools receive 12 out of 25 awards?” They added, “Is Bisi Esuruosho trying to influence the ongoing investigation involving Chrisland? Does she have any vested interests? Chrisland needs to be cautious to avoid suspicion of being used for ulterior motives.”
During the awards ceremony, the Commissioner of Education in Lagos State presented the ‘Beacon of Safety’ award to Chrisland Schools, raising concerns about the legitimacy of the award, especially considering the ongoing legal disputes between the state and the schools regarding the death of Miss Adeniran.
A teacher questioned why the commissioner was presenting the award to Chrisland when neutrality should be maintained until the investigations and arbitration processes are completed.
Another private school owner who attended the event expressed concerns about Bisi Esuruosho’s claim that the Lagos government relies on her for reports on schools that violate safety regulations. They pointed out that by awarding Chrisland 12 awards, she appeared to give them preferential treatment. The school owner emphasized the need for clarity on Esuruosho’s role and her relationship with Chrisland.
Many schools in Lagos have distanced themselves from the awards, calling for investigations by school and safety authorities and the state government to ascertain the true circumstances surrounding the 2023 Beacon of Safety awards. A Lagos State government official, who preferred to remain anonymous, stated, “The authority responsible for determining schools’ compliance with quality control tests is the DG, Quality Assurance. We need to carefully examine where Bisi Esuruosho’s claims are coming from and avoid causing confusion among the public.”
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