Historical Background:The Journey So Far

In 1980, Lagelu Special School was established as a unit under the St. Luke’s Anglican School and the headmaster was Mr. Taiwo. The School kickoff with five (5) and later skyrocketed to sixteen (16) pupils under a new head-teacher, Mrs. Makinde.

In 1988, Mrs. Olorunfunmi Ogunlari-Alao (the director of New Dawn Home) took over the mantle of servitude. As at this time, Lagelu Special School was the only special school in Lagelu Local Government. The school was serving two other Local Governments, viz: Egbeda and Akinyele.

However, due to the distance barrier being faced by the pupils, Mrs. Alao suggested a Trial Residential Program to enhance the pupil’s regularity to school. This program started in 1990 and received contributions and donations from philanthropists, churches, mosques, community, private companies and individual. Lagelu Local Government donated beds and mattresses.

In the early hours of 1997, Oyo State Government approved the residence, allocating for the pupils feeding allowance and payment of monthly salary for the domestic workers. The fees were further aggrandize to #100.00 for daily feeding allowance and #5,000 for domestic workers monthly salary. Other contributions include the 6 rooms hostel donated by the Education Trust Fund (E.T.F).

On 16^th of May 2004, Mrs. Alao established another annex of the handicapped school at St. James Primary School, Iyana-Church Ibadan when she observed that a lot of handicapped pupils were not attending school. This unit also consists of all categories of handicapped (mentally retarded, deaf, blind or physically challenged) and has over 30 pupils on roll. These different categories are managing a classroom with 3 specialist teachers.

On 25th of May, 2004, Her Excellency Chef Mrs. Olayinka Mutiat ladoja visited the school and the home to donate some mattresses, food items and wheelchairs. The School engaged in sporting activities and on 19^th of May, 2005, Lagelu Special School, Lalupon took part in the mini-competition of Special Olympics and won 4 Gold, 3 Silver and 4 Bronze medals.

In 2009, Mrs. Alao with her cheerful heart towards achieving the children established the New Dawn Home in Ejioku, Lagelu L.G.A. However, the School ignite into full operation in 2013.

Mrs. Olorunfunmi Ogunlari-Alao, Director and Founder of New Dawn Home

Ten Glimpses of Her Achievements So far

1. Increase of the pupils from 16 to 106 when Mrs. Olorunfunmi Alao assumed duty in 1998
2. Upgrading the unit to a school in 1990
3. Increase the teachers strength from 3 to 8
4. Kick-started Trial Residential Programme in 1990 which was approved by Oyo State Government in 1997
5. Visitation of the Nigeria Medical Association to the home
6. Establishment of an annex at St. James School, Iyana-Church in 2004
7. Became the Chairperson, Ibadanland, Nigeria Association of Special Education Teachers in 2009
8. Approval of the annex at Ibadan and it became Lagelu Special School II, Iyana-Church in 2011
9. Participation of the pupils in the Special Olympics on 19^th May,2005. Winning 4 Gold, 3 Silver and 4 Bronze.
10. Building of a block comprising of 3 classes and one office by Universal Basic Education Commission (a special educational grant for private providers.)