Meet Esther Oyedele, Head Patrol-man and Eagle Eye Guardian of Pupils at FUTA Staff Primary School
Meet Esther Oyedele, Head Patrol-man and Eagle Eye Guardian of Pupils at FUTA Staff Primary School, She has spent over 23 years on the job.
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Meet Esther Oyedele, Head Patrol-man and Eagle Eye Guardian of Pupils at FUTA Staff Primary School, She has spent over 23 years on the job. Her duty as a security officer is to ensure motorists obey traffic rules around the school, especially through strict observance of Zebra crossing rules to safeguard the young pupils and the security of lives and property.
Esther Oyedele: The Eagle Eye Guardian of Pupils at FUTA Staff Primary School
Esther Oyedele is a face that you get to see every early working day around the Staff Primary School of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA. Her duty as a security officer is to ensure motorists obey traffic rules around the school, especially through strict observance of Zebra crossing rules to safeguard the young pupils and security of lives and property. She also oversees the safety of pupils in the morning on arrival and ensures they are picked up by parents or duly verified guardians. She pays attention to details relating to her job and her eagle eye is ever alert to safeguard the young ones. She said motherly passion in her is her secret on the job. She has spent over 23 years on the job.
Read her story:
I am Mrs. Oyedele Oluwayemi Esther. I work in the security unit. I joined FUTA 10th January, 2000 as day and night guard and presently I am Head, Patrol-man. I was posted to the FUTA primary school in January 2015. Before then I worked at Old library, Physics and Industrial Design Departments. The job of security doesn't recognize gender either a man or woman. What the job recognizes is, you come to work on time, do your work to ensure security of lives and property and make proper handing over after work.
MY FUNCTIONS
I stand at the school entrance to note and notice every child with their parents every morning. If you come today to drop a child and the same child is coming tomorrow with another person, I will question the person that comes with the child to know the relationship. So, from my interaction, the true identity will be known. I do that because of the insecurity happening in the country and our environment. My daily schedule is 8am to 4pm but if a parent puts a call through that he/she will be coming late to pick his/her child, I will have to wait behind till the parent arrives to pick the child and if the coming is delayed, I will have to hand over the child to a security officer at the security unit and drop the parent’s phone number and immediately the parent comes, the security office will inform me before releasing such child.
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ROAD SIGNS AND COMPLIANCE
I usually have issues with some students who drive on campus on this because they are always impatient. Other motorists do comply with the signs if stopped. I do report any student that violates the road signs by writing their vehicles plate number and making a report at the security unit. Such students are invited for questioning and correction.
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To avoid accidents from such impatient drivers’ s on the road, I always personally stop motorists to check their speed and sometimes cross to the other side to carry toddlers from their parents. At times I ensure the children are more than one before taking them across the road but I have special consideration for the toddlers by carrying them to cross the road.
CHALLENGES
The major challenge is noncompliance with traffic rules by motorists. Less than half of motorists observe the speed limit of 20km within the campus, including staff. Some even try auto racing which can cause accident and claim innocent lives
Another challenge is delay by parents in picking their children after closing which causes me to over stay without informing me. Some of the parents put a call through to inform us that they are not coming early. For such I will arrange where the child will be and if there is a child hanging around, I will pick the register and call the parent to know reasons why the parent is not yet around to pick his child. It is very tasking to do so most times. We have complained at the Parents Teacher Association (PTA) level yet some are still not complying. Sometimes, pupils will be around the school till about 5pm or 6pm sometimes 7pm. I will have to confirm to know what's is going on before leaving and maybe make arrangement with the parent on how the child will be in safe hands.
Another issue is that of Okada riders. Though, the management is aware and proper measures is being taken to have all the details of parents engaging them to carry their children. If there are changes regarding their arrangements, we will be duly informed. There is a document that has information about the Okada man been engaged to carry each child, a copy is with the security guard at the gate duly signed by the parent and other parties.
RELATIONSHIP WITH PARENTS AND PUPILS
I feel fulfilled when I see those children around, they hug me, talk to me and also share situations at home with me. That gives me a lot of joy and sense of belonging. I also have cordial relationship with some parents and embarrassment from some. Some will even tell me "sorry we can't talk to you." I always laugh within me and put such behind me immediately. As long as God is with me on the job, nothing can perturb me.
TRAINING
I got the training on the job. The job involved using initiative and alertness at any moment and seconds. If I am not at my duty post, I am not comfortable because I deal with children. I make sure I am always at my duty post. By the grace of God all vehicles are safe and one thing is I know all vehicles that are parked at the car park, the plate numbers and their owners. So if I notice any strange vehicle parked, I will quickly ask questions to identify the owner. I do this to ensure proper security of lives and property.
AWARD OR COMMENDATION
Parents do come around to appreciate and also commend my good work. That on its own is enough.
SOCIAL AND MARITAL LIFE
I am a very simple and easy going person and also a believer. My family understand the nature of my job and I don’t allow it to affect my responsibility at home.
My children attend military school, and by 6:30am they are on their way to school while I face FUTA. So I have time to get myself dressed and leave for work early. I take time to teach my children and help with their home work at my leisure hours, especially weekends.
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