An early morning downpour on Monday disrupted the smooth resumption of primary and secondary schools in Ilorin, Kwara State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the rain, which began at about 7:35 a.m. and lasted until 11:05 a.m., affected the movement of students and parents who were either at bus stops or already on their way for the commencement of the 2025/2026 academic session.
A NAN correspondent who monitored the situation observed that fewer vehicles plied the roads compared to regular school days when traffic is usually heavy. Some private schools recorded low attendance despite their usual high turnout on the first day of resumption.
At some public schools, students were seen arriving as late as 9:30 a.m., with no supervision in place to address lateness.
Parents who spoke with NAN expressed mixed feelings about the situation. Mrs. Blessing Ayoola said although her children were eager to resume, the rain made it difficult to get them to school since she had no vehicle.
“If they were still at home before the rain started, I would have persuaded them to stay back and resume on Tuesday,” she said.
Another parent, Mr. Okanlawon Samuel, explained that he had no choice but to bring his children to school in the rain because of their excitement.
“Their eagerness to launch their new school bags and wears was too much to ignore,” he said, adding that while his children were protected with raincoats, he himself got soaked.
Meanwhile, the Kwara State Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development has reaffirmed government’s commitment to a safe, conducive, and technology-driven learning environment.
The Commissioner for Education, Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe, urged stakeholders to cooperate with the government to ensure a successful academic session.
