Kunle Adelabu
Mr Taiwo Hassan Awolaru, Secretary of the committee (right), Otunba Ganiyu Olusegun Abiru, Executive Secretary, IDPIL/GTE (2nd right), Alhaja Bolanle Alaka. Member of the committee (3rd right), Col. Titilayo Onafowokan, Chieftain of the IDPIL/GTE (3rd left), Alhaji Kalejaiye, committee member 92nd lfet) and Dr Oyewo, a medical doctor during the screening of the scholarship aspirants at the Leo Regal Hall, Olu – Odo, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA on Friday.
Chieftains of the Ikorodu Division Peace Initiatives Limited/GTE, the security architecture for the Division, has expressed their joy over the quality of students from Ikorodu, especially those studying Medicines, stating that they hold great promise for Ikorodu.
Eminent personalities, who are members of the panel that interviewed the over 200 applicants that applied for the first edition of the IDPIL/GTE Scholarship and Bursary Schemes, gave this verdict after the 3 – day screening exercise held at the Leo Regal Hall, Olu – Odo, Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area, between Wednesday, August 17 and Friday, August 19, 2022.
The duo of Otunba Ganiyu Olusegun Abiru, the Executive Secretary, IDPIL/GTE, and Revd. (Col.) Bolaji Titilayo Onafowokan, a chieftain of the organization, said that they were impressed by the performances of the Scholarship applicants who are distinction students in their various Universities.
In separate interviews with THE IMPACT, they assured that Ikorodu Division will have more than enough capacity to adequately run the General Hospital, Ikorodu, when it turns into a Teaching Hospital.
Abiru, who said that he now have a change of mind towards the educational standard in the state, also commended the Lagos State University (LASU) for the performance of its students.
“Well, honestly, l am impressed. One was under the impression that the standard of education in Nigeria, particularly in Lagos was downward trend, but what I observed within the last two days and today clearly shows that we all must be proud of our students and the higher institutions, particularly Lagos State University (LASU). I am impressed with what I saw, particularly today”, Otunba Abiru, who doesn’t engage in false praise, said.
“I want to call other well – meaning individuals and organizations in lkorodu, that we must pay a good attention to education and its development in its entirety. Honestly, particularly when you listen to the medical students in their interviews, I am proud to be from lkorodu. I was impressed”, he added proudly.
“What also gladdens my heart is that we have a number of people that are studying various areas of medicines in LASU and that shows that by the grace of God, if we have to transmute the present General Hospital into a Teaching Hospital, I can tell you for free that we have capable hands to man various departments in the proposed Teaching hospital.
Otunba Abiru described the ScholAsrhip and Bursary screening as an exciting exercise that opened up the capacity of the students from Ikorodu.
“The exercise was illuminating and very exciting and it’s exposed the fact that we still have a bright future and people that we can say are the future leaders of this country, particularly, I want to congratulate the IDPIL/GTE for bringing out this laudable scheme. It is yearly event and by the grace of God, we will continue to do what is best for the development of our community and Ikorodu Division”, he said.
“IDPIL is a multi – dimensional organization, we are not only focusing on security, but most people think that our only focus is security, No! We are addressing all areas of needs; we are just like an interventionist body. We are going to look into security, education, environment and all other areas that we can accelerate development in lkorodu Division and what we have done so far is just a tip of the iceberg. A lot of things are still coming from IDPIL”, Otunba Abiru emphasized.
Another chieftain of the IDPIL/GTE, Col. Bolaji Onafowokan, also described the Scholarship students, especially the majority of them who are into medicines, as very intelligent set of people.
“Today is the best day so far, because the set of people we have today are the most intelligent. They answered questions intelligently and they really want to learn from us and funny enough, they are mostly medical students”, the retired Colonel said.
“Today is medical students’ day and they really impressed me and I think in the nearest future, Ikorodu will be very rich with medical doctors.
“I have the confidence that we have a brighter future than before and if you go to the hospitals, in fact, the doctor in the hospital are non – indigenes, both in public (General) hospital and in the state, but with what l am seeing today, we are going to have indigenes as great doctors. I think God selected them in the sense that they are all professionals.
“We bombarded them with questions because those of us on the panel are core professionals and they felt good that we were engaging them and were happy about it”.
Meanwhile, the retired Colonel in the Nigerian Army, also expressed his reservations at the knowledge in culture, economic and other areas by some of the applicants studying sciences.
“One thing I observed is that some of them seem to be very good in their respective courses, but knows nothing about their environment. For example, somebody from Ikorodu cannot pronounce the name of the Kabiyesi very well, that is shameful”, he said.
He also said that the screening has changed many of the Scholarship and Bursary applicants’ orientation.
“I want to say it has given our children a new orientation in the sense that some of them never knew that when they are going for interview, they need to be very presentable and get there early. We have been able to tell them that there dressing is important and that appearance also does carry marks. We found out that some of them now know that they need to prepare very well when going for this type of interview and they need to know the organisers of the scheme”, he said.
