"Gosh, I finally made it to Makoko floating school. A story I
have been longing to do in a while after having done the initial story years
ago when the school was being built. After weeks of planning and communicating
with the school's director with the help of NLE, here I was walking down narrow
paths to get to the jetty.
This is why I chose journalism, the thrill that comes from telling stories about Africa to the rest of the world. Nothing could compare to the feeling I had. Lots of things ran through my mind in that 15 minutes walk. As my colleagues and I walked on with our camera kit hidden in backpacks from the prying eyes of the Makoko residents who could tell we were strangers, we observed the sights and sounds of this fascinating community. Firstly I wondered how on earth they got clean water. That was until I spotted some large drums in one of the shacks. Then I thought about how they slept at night with the stench. And I figured after decades of living there, they were probably used to it. It was humbling and I tried to wrap my head around why little children could be seen carrying out various tasks instead of being in school. Even with the free education, their parents did not want to be deprived of any assistance they could get to boost their income.
We got to the school just in time for their morning assembly. The kids sang praises to God in unison as the floating school swayed slowly with the wind with the early morning breeze whispering to us a welcome so sweet.
The pyramid-shaped structure is bouyed by over 200
plastic barrels and is able to withstand tidal changes and extreme weather
patterns. Known to some as the Venice of Lagos, the 100-year-old slum is home
to thousands of people whose major source of income is fishing, sand harvesting
and timber trading.
The school was constructed by a young Nigerian architect who
was inspired by the need to chart a new path for people who live in water
communities.
The project which was started in 2012 was officially opened in November 2015. 47 students currently study here.
Makoko was designated for demolition in 2013 which would have left many homeless. Most residents in the slum are migrants from other countries in West Africa trying to make a living in Nigeria.
With its unique architecture, the Floating School has brought global attention to the plight of Makoko's residents.
Now, the local government says it wants to incorporate the
Floating School's design into its own urban planning.
Majority of Lagosians live in what are effectively slums with no reliable
electricity or water. Projects like Makoko's Floating School are helping to
address some of the growing challenges of climate change and urbanisation that
people here face.".
Written by Sharon Ogunleye
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