Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A fierce battle is unfolding in Port Harcourt over the fate of Wisdom Gate International Schools, where grieving parents are pleading with the Rivers State Government to reverse the indefinite closure of the institution, even as a human rights lawyer accuses the school’s management of orchestrating a campaign to pressure authorities into lifting the suspension.
The school was shuttered on April 15, 2026, following the tragic death of a two-year-old pupil, Wynne Kabari Akekue, who died after a bookshelf allegedly collapsed on her in a classroom on March 17, 2026. The state’s Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, who ordered the indefinite suspension, described the incident as “deeply unfortunate” and vowed that the school would remain closed until all issues related to the case are fully resolved.
The family of the deceased child has painted a harrowing picture of negligence and a subsequent cover-up. According to the toddler’s father, Dr. Lasuaka Akekue, the family was only informed about the tragedy after the school had already transported his daughter to two different hospitals.
He alleged that the school quickly cleaned the scene of the incident and moved the bookshelf, later providing inconsistent accounts of what happened. While the school first claimed that books falling from a shelf struck the child, a verbal autopsy report revealed that Wynne suffered a significant skull fracture that led to a fatal hemorrhage. The distraught father has accused the school of using “highly placed persons” to pressure him and his wife into burying their daughter quickly and settling the matter out of court, adding that he no longer feels safe as he pursues justice.
In response to the public outrage and the indefinite closure, a faction of parents has emerged, pleading with the government to allow the school to reopen. However, the management’s efforts to rally support have been met with fierce opposition. Human rights lawyer Chetam Nwala, who is representing the Akekue family, has raised an alarm over what he describes as an orchestrated plot by the school to influence authorities and public opinion.
Nwala alleges that the management organized a press engagement with selected parents to pass a vote of confidence on the school’s facilities and to pressure the Ministry of Education to lift the closure order. “The move was aimed at passing a vote of confidence on the school’s facilities and mounting pressure on the Ministry of Education to lift the closure order,” Nwala stated, further alleging that the school had reached out to the offices of the Governor and Deputy Governor to compel the Commissioner for Education to approve the reopening.
Nwala has also raised serious concerns about the safety culture at the institution, claiming that the school operated for years without a functional Parent-Teacher Association at the campus where the incident occurred. He accused the management of tightly controlling communication channels, such as the parents’ WhatsApp group, and prioritizing business interests over the welfare of its pupils. Warning the parents supporting the school’s reopening, he noted that the pursuit of justice in this case could affect any family in the future and vowed that any attempt to pressure education authorities would be met with legal opposition.
For its part, the management of Wisdom Gate International School has broken its silence, expressing deep sorrow over the tragic loss and denying allegations of a cover-up. In a press statement, the school insisted it acted promptly and transparently, stating that the child was attended to without delay and rushed for urgent medical care. “The matter was promptly reported, and we have been fully cooperating with the relevant authorities to ensure a thorough and transparent review,” the statement read.
The school reassured parents that safety remains its top priority and that existing safety standards and protocols are being reinforced. However, the institution declined to provide further details about the incident, citing respect for the grieving family and the ongoing investigation.
The legal and criminal investigations are ongoing, with the Rivers State Police Command confirming it has received the autopsy report. Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, denied allegations that the police were withholding the report or conniving with the school to pressure the family, describing the autopsy as a public document that would be released to the parents upon formal application. The matter has been transferred to the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department for a thorough probe. As the government holds its ground and the family demands justice, the closure of Wisdom Gate International Schools remains a deeply divisive issue, pitting parents desperate for their children’s education against a community demanding accountability for a life lost too soon.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments