What was conceived as a legacy project to provide shelter and hope for vulnerable women and girls in Ondo State has now become a source of concern for residents, as the multi-million naira FOWOSO Centre along Oda Road, Akure, lies abandoned and overtaken by bushes.
The building, initiated in 2022 by the late former Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s wife, Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, was designed as the Foundation for Wives of Ondo State Officials and Female Political Appointees (FOWOSO) Centre.
It was intended to serve as a refuge for victims of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), as well as house an e-library, event auditorium, administrative offices and lodges for displaced women and girls.
At the foundation-laying ceremony in 2022, the former First Lady described the project as a legacy initiative funded through FOWOSO’s resources, aimed at demonstrating women’s capacity to drive impactful development.
She had said the centre would provide shelter for women and girls displaced by domestic violence and other forms of abuse, stressing that “when completed, this project will give hope to the hopeless and provide a safe haven for the vulnerable.”
In 2023, during an inspection tour of the site, she reiterated that the “gigantic and encompassing building project” was not for personal glory but for the benefit of Ondo women and girls, particularly victims in need of protection and rehabilitation.
However, three years later, the once-promising structure stands incomplete and deserted. Since the death of former Governor Akeredolu in 2023, which marked the end of that administration, construction work at the site has reportedly ceased.
Roving Reporters’ visit to the location shows an uncompleted two-storey structure surrounded by overgrown weeds and thick bushes. The scaffolding remains in place, but there is no sign of ongoing work. The building sits conspicuously along the newly reconstructed Oda Road, between the ICPC office and the State Psychiatric Hospital.
Residents in the area expressed worry that the abandoned structure has become a hideout for hoodlums and a breeding ground for reptiles and rodents.
One resident, who identified himself simply as Adewale, said the building now poses a serious security threat.
“This place was supposed to shelter vulnerable women, but today it is sheltering hoodlums and rodents,” he lamented. “At night, we see strange movements around the building. The bushes have grown wild, and nobody can say for sure who goes in and out.”
Another resident, Mrs. Olanike A., noted that fear has prevented community members from attempting to inspect the premises.
“We can’t even go inside to check what is happening there because we are afraid of what we might meet,” she said. “It is painful that a public building has been standing here for over four years without completion. The government should either take it over or do something urgently before it becomes a bigger problem.”
A shop owner along the road also described the situation as “an embarrassment,” given the strategic location of the building on a major road.
“It is on the main road, very close to important government institutions. Instead of being a centre of hope for abused women, it is now an eyesore. That is not the legacy we were promised,” he said.
Residents are calling on the Ondo State Government to urgently intervene — either by resuming construction, repurposing the building, or clearing the overgrown surroundings to mitigate security risks.
For many in the community, the irony is stark: a centre envisioned as a sanctuary for victims of violence has itself become a symbol of neglect, now offering refuge not to the vulnerable it was meant to protect, but to hoodlums, rodents and encroaching bushes.
Reacting to concerns over the abandoned FOWOSO Centre, the Ondo State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Tob Loko, said the government was aware of the situation and was already looking into it.
Speaking with Roving Reporters, Dr. Loko explained that the government was in the process of taking necessary steps regarding the clearing of the premises, adding that ownership and security concerns were being carefully examined.
“As far as we are concerned, we need to look at who owns it and the security implications surrounding it. Give us some more time so that we can provide a better and more comprehensive .
Dr. Loko assured residents that the government would address the matter appropriately after concluding its assessment.
