Rivers school begs for reopening after shutdown over toddler’s death

The management of Wisdom Gate International School in Rivers State is making a heartfelt plea to the state government to allow its reopening, following a tragic incident that led to the suspension of its operations. The school, which was shut down after a two-year-old pupil, Wynnie Akakue, died from injuries sustained when a bookshelf fell on her, is now facing immense pressure from various stakeholders.

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The children in Wisdom Gate International School are our children. We see that our commissioner is a father; he is our grandfather in this institution. That’s why we are calling on him. He has done the right thing by suspending activities for now.

The incident, which occurred on March 17, has cast a dark shadow over the institution. The parents of the deceased child, Dr. Iasuaka Akakue and Mrs. Chinyere Akakue, have voiced strong accusations of a cover-up, demanding justice for their daughter. This has understandably led to a public outcry and the subsequent order from the Rivers State Government, through the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, to suspend all academic activities until the matter is fully resolved.

However, the continued closure is creating significant hardship. Parents of other pupils are voicing their distress over the disruption to their children's education, particularly as it occurred during examination periods. Furthermore, the school's employees are facing unemployment. The proprietress, Toyon Obikoya, has expressed the school's deep sorrow and extended sincere empathy to the bereaved family, stating that the suspension came as a shock.

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But we are telling him that he should please show us mercy because other children’s education is equally at stake. The parents are calling, but because we are a law-abiding institution, we can’t do otherwise.

Obikoya's appeal is one for mercy and understanding. She highlights that the school views all its pupils as its own children and implores the Commissioner, whom she refers to as a 'father' and 'grandfather,' to show compassion. The school management has reportedly made efforts to reach the family, including engaging with their lawyer and meeting with the pupil's grandparents, demonstrating a willingness to address the situation constructively. The plea underscores the difficult balance between seeking justice for a tragic loss and mitigating the broader impact on the school community.

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The family demanded that we speak to them through their lawyer, and knowing this, we moved to his hometown in Tai, Ogoni Kingdom, to reach the bishop of the Anglican Diocese, who led us to the grandparents of our dear pupil. We reported the incident and shared our sincere empathy with the family before leaving.