Kunle Adelabu
Vision Rescue, a non-governmental body of former students of Ipakodo Grammar School in Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area of Ikorodu Division of Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, on Friday, November 8, 2019, distributed educational materials to 40 students in Ipakodo Grammar School.
The beneficiaries of the educational materials were students that are academically brilliant but needing support .
Among the materials distributed were textbooks for subjects such as English Language, Mathematics, Government, Chemistry and Accounting among others, Mathematical sets, notebooks and pens.
At the brief ceremony which took place within the premises of Ipakodo Grammar School, many other students were also given consolatory prizes.
According to the Coordinator of the project, Dr Abiodun Fatai Abatan, a political science lecturer, Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, the beneficiaries were selected through a survey method based on questionnaires which were administered on students in Senior Secondary Classes few months back.
Dr Abatan, who stated that he was a product of educational support, added that the gesture was to assist parents who are not financially capable to provide needed educational materials for their children and wards to enhance their studies.
He further added that the goal of the group is not just to touch lives but also to instill giving spirit in them so that they too can give back to the society.
“I am also a product of educational support from the likes of late Alhaji Musediq Alogba. Today, I am a Doctorate degree holder who teaches at the Lagos State University”, he stated.
“The goal is to ensure that we touch lives.
“We also want to inculcate in ourselves the tradition of giving to move the society forward”, Dr Abiodun stated.
He told the students to make good use of the materials presented to them.
“This support will make you better as students. Make very good use of them by engaging yourself in reading”.
Explaining how they came about the 40 beneficiaries, the doctor of political science stated:
“We used special and strategic ways in determining the beneficiaries. We were here few months back to apply questionnaires on you and out of the lot, 40 brilliant students who are in need of support were selected”, he revealed.
“We have textbooks in general subjects – English Language, Mathematics, and on specific subjects in Sciences, Commercial and Humanities.
“Those that benefitted have displayed good academic and moral standing”, he stated.
“We are going to be monitoring your progress and see how we can support you to the University level.
“We have consolation prizes for others too. You should take it as challenge to become better in your academics”.
Dr Abiodun appreciated the government and the school management for the support given to Vision Rescue so far in impacting on the students.
Comrade Japheth Odesanya, the Publisher of the Factor Newsmagazine, former Secretary to Ikorodu Local Government and a former student of the school, also speaking stated that the group is intervening in education because they discovered that there is need for urgent intervention in the educational system.
He called on the government to do more in term of providing infrastructure and other things needed to create enabling educational environment in the state and country at large.
He too enjoined the students to make good use of the educational materials.
The Principal of the Ipakodo Senior Grammar School, Mrs Alebiosu R.O, in her remarks, commended the ex-students for their giant strides after passing out of the school and for deeming it fit to give back to their old school.
“These are former students of this school coming to give you educational support few weeks after they had come to donate to the school.
“We are very proud of them. They have made it in life and now giving back to their former school and the society.
“They are making life better for students by providing educational materials and other supports.
“They know that you needed conducive environment and they are doing everything to provide that for you.
“These are people that have been supporting you and the school because they know that government alone cannot do it all”, she said thankfully.
