Education is power. The more knowledge one has, the more power they gain. Also, the greater education a community has, the greater the community becomes.

It was on this basis that the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), having been inspired by the need for a greater community to alleviate the suffering of the needy, renovated a block of two science laboratory rooms for Agbonda High School, Agbonda in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The project, which was refurbished by RCCG, Lagos Province 28, in collaboration with Agbonda Community, was commissioned and handed over to the community on Wednesday, December 31, 2014.

The hand-over ceremony which brought together indigenes of the community and ministers of God from RCCG was held at the school premises, Eku-Apa, Agbonda.

Dignitaries at the ceremony included the traditional ruler of the community, the Alapa of Agbonda, Oba Johnson Tejumola Iranloye and his traditional chiefs, the Kwara State APC Secretary, Hon. Bode Adekanye, a community leader, Prince N. Odetundun, the representative of the General Overseer of RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Pastor Emmanuel Yemi Oyinloye and other men of God from the church, the Principal of the school, Mr. M.A. Kolawole, members of the community and students of the school.

At the official hand-over ceremony of the renovated building, Pastor Adeboye said that the church deemed it necessary to help improve the learning condition of the Nigerian child and decided to improve the lot of the Agbonda High School by reconstructing the science laboratory rooms, having seen the poor learning environment.

Pastor Adeboye, who noted that the gesture was part of the church's commitment to the development of education, particularly science education in the country, said that the project was aimed at cushioning the challenges of the rural areas in accessing qualitative education.

"The gesture was part of the church's corporate social responsibility initiative and in line with its vision to positively impact and develop its environment in tangible and measurable ways. The church should not just be taking from the society but must also be giving back to the society.

"We look at critical areas including education, health, safety and security and provide succour in areas that need such intervention. Education is one of the areas we have identified. If you give a child education, you set him free for life.

"It is the responsibility of the Christian community to take care of the poor within their immediate environment as that would help rid our society of social miscreant.

"We need to develop a workable intervention plan to guide the poor out of their vulnerable conditions and into optimism and productivity, both spiritually and academically," Pastor Adeboye added.

Responding on behalf of the Agbonda community, a community leader, Prince N. Odetundun said before the intervention of the church, the school science laboratory building was an empty room. The roof of the building was blown off by rain. The building dilapidated and has been left that way for years until now that the church came to their rescue.

He added that over N1.5m was spent on the laboratory by the church to transform it into a neat room with requisite fittings.

Appreciating the RCCG for the gesture, Prince Odetundun said that the renovated laboratory would raise the school's standard to an enviable position among other secondary schools in the area.

"If you look at the way this building was renovated, you will know that it was through the work of God. We have made several attempts to put the school back to shape, we even wrote authorities for assistance. What the Redeemed did was a great thing and we are asking them for more", he added Prince Oyinloye also called for government attention and from other well-meaning Nigerians to further assist the school as they lack a lot of basic learning facilities.

The Principal of the school, Mr. M.A. Kolawole, who could not hide his feelings on the development, expressed hope that learning will improve to an extent with the donation of the laboratory.

"The students will have enough rooms and facilities for their science practical and they will learn in a good atmosphere," the principal said.

The traditional ruler of the community, Alapa of Agbonda, Oba Johnson Tejumola Iranloye said he was touched by the humanitarian gesture of the church, called for such donations from other kind-hearted Nigerians and corporate bodies.

Speaking with The Herald, the Kwara State APC Secretary, Hon. Bode Adekanye said the project would nevertheless complement the efforts by the state government to give quality education to its citizenry.

According to Hon. Adekanye, "the church is trying in terms of contributing to the education development of this country of which my town had benefitted. All the same, the state government is aware of these lapses in education. For example in my ward, some communities have their schools renovated and another time it will be the turn of our school.

"We have benefitted in another area, our cottage hospital has been renovated by the state government. The government had supplied the hospital with equipment and drugs.

"Other towns around us have benefitted in other areas. In Agbamu town, their school was renovated. To the best of my knowledge the state government spent N40 million on the project.

He, however, appealed to the people of the community to continue to support the present administration in the state in order to have more dividends of democracy.

Some of the students who spoke with The Herald lauded the effort of the church, said that the building was timely, apt and a succour to the community. They prayed for the church and promise to keep their head above their shoulders and study hard in order to justify the honour done to them by the church.

A parent, who identified herself as Iya Wale, commended the church for their gesture.

She said: "the Redeemed Church has remembered our community. Before now, it rains on our children while they are learning in the classroom, thank God today, our children are happy. Government should build more schools for us. We have big land and we need more schools.