A public library in Iwo, situated in the Iwo Local Government Area of Osun State, has remained without reading facilities or administrative staff for four years.
The federal government allocated over N190 million in taxpayer funds to this project through the National Productivity Centre (NPC), a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.
Adelere Oriolowo, a former senator representing Osun West, facilitated the project for his constituency, and it was completed in 2021. However, his bid for re-election fell through in 2022 when he failed to secure the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket. The 2023 general election saw Lere Oyewumi emerge as his successor.
Public libraries serve as vital infrastructure for literacy promotion, community education, and knowledge preservation.
Strategically positioned beside the Iwo East Local Council Development Area (LCDA) secretariat, the structure stands close to Bowen University’s old gate.
In January 2024, a special investigative report by FIJ shed light on the extensive neglect and decline the facility had suffered since its completion. The library remained empty—devoid of books, staff, or any indication that it was ready for public use.
When FIJ revisited the location on Monday, the situation had worsened. The structure was overrun with weeds and tall trees, while a refuse heap, nearly three feet high, sat prominently in front of the building—evidence that it was gradually turning into a dumpsite.
The deterioration was even more pronounced than what had been previously reported. Sections of the glass wall on the frontage were broken, creating an opening large enough for people to access the locked building.
A local security guard, known as Konko, stationed at the LCDA premises, confirmed that the government had yet to equip the facility with books.
“They completed the building but didn’t provide books,” he said while resting under a tree near the LCDA secretariat. “When they are ready, they will do the right thing.”
Last year, Senator Oyewumi assured FIJ that he would push for funds in the 2025 budget to make the library operational.
“I promise to visit the place before June so that I can work on it next year. It will be functional before long,” Oyewumi stated in a text message dated January 11, 2024.
However, all signs indicate that the library remains far from receiving the attention it urgently needs.
In a follow-up inquiry on Monday, FIJ reached out to Oyewumi to determine whether the 2025 fiscal budget included provisions for making the library operational. His response was a simple and definitive: “No.”
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