Kunle Adelabu
-Gets royal, schools’ commendations
Hundreds of pupils in Ijede Local Council Development Area of Ikorodu Division, Lagos State Southwest, Nigeria, on Monday, received exercise books and school uniforms to aid their education, courtesy of the Chairman of the Council, Hon. Motunrayo Gbadebo – Alogba.
The distribution for this year’s school package was flagged off on Monday, with the Chairman leading her Vice, Hon. Kareem Kabir, cabinet members, management team and Councilors to Anglican Primary School, Ijede, Anwar – Ul – Islam Primary School, Ijede and Egbin Kingdom Nursery & Primary School, Egbin, to distribute packs of exercise books to pupils.
Over hundred indigent pupils also received new ready-made school uniforms.
The exercise is billed to continue tomorrow, during which the remaining four primary schools in the council would be covered.
Hon. Alogba, who said that the distribution exercise is a continuation of what she started since her assumption of office as the Council Chairman, added that this particular exercise is being organized as part of her efforts in cushioning the effects of the subsidy removal on the residents in her council.
She also said that the gesture is also to encourage the pupils in their academic pursuits.
“This is a continuation of our educational support programmes, part of which involves giving out educational materials, but why we are doing it now is to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal and support the parents”, she said.
“It is our way of giving out and supporting them, and also supports the development of education in our community.
“We have seven primary schools in Ijede LCDA, and we are going to tour all of them to give exercise books to all the pupils, and give the indigent pupils school uniforms too”, she said.
The Council boss charged the pupils to be serious about their education.
“I will encourage them to face their studies, and make their parents proud, and also listen to their teachers”, she said.
“We also want their parents to support the teachers, because teachers alone cannot do it. Both have to impacts on the children”, she pleaded.
Meanwhile, the Obateru of Egbin Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Abdul-Hakeen Adeoriyomi Oyebo, has commended the Council boss for her efforts towards the development of education in the Kingdom.
Obateru gave the commendation at the Egbin Kingdom Nursery & Primary School, Egbin, during the presentation of school uniforms to about 50 indigent pupils of the school and packs of exercise books to all the pupils, by Hon. Alogba and her team.
“This is just one of the things that she has been doing. This is a kind gesture towards the educational development. It is a very good one, and I want to commend her on her efforts generally in the educational sector, especially in the primary education level which is the foundation for any educational system, because you cannot jump to the secondary school without having your Nursery, KG and primary education”, Oba Oyebo said.
“She is doing very well in that aspect and education is just one of the areas that she has doing very well. I am giving her kudos in that regard”, Kabiyesi added.
While charging parents to continue showing commitments to educational development of their children and wards, Obateru also added that he is ensuring that the pupils have good moral standard and learn about agriculture.
“My advice to the parents is that they should keep on doing what they are doing. Initially, I discouraged parents forum but they said no, that they want to be part of the school, and they are doing their best “, Oba Oyebo said.
“They should keep on doing what they are doing in term of supporting and in the area of learning also. They should also teach their children the moral lessons that we were taught in those days in the 70s, while in the primary school and in the grammar school. We want them to replicate those teachings”.
“In fact, I am also tutoring the pupils on the morals, so that we will not lose it all.
“I have equally told the Head Teacher that they should engage the pupils in the area of agriculture. We have to teach our pupils the value of agriculture. Any country, nation or race in the world that does not encourage agriculture will be living with poverty.
Singing: “Iwe ki ko, lai si oko ati ada, koi pe o, ko i pe o” (Education without farming is incomplete)”, the royal father sang the popular old song that was sang in those days in schools, to buttress his point.
Head teachers in the benefiting schools thanked the Chairman for the kind gesture extended to their pupils.
In the same manner, some of the pupils that spoke with THE IMPACT, also appreciated the Chairman, stating that her intervention will go a long way to encourage them.
