Wale Jagun & Mariam Akinloye with Olaleye Deborah (SIWES Student)
Ikorodu Division recorded another landmark in educational development as the Ikorodu Division Peace Initiative Limited (IDPIL) held its 4th annual presentation of Scholarship and Bursary awards for over 200 students in Ikorodu.
At the event held at the N.S Sho Event Hall, Imota, the IDPIL awarded 31 scholars across various higher institutions N200, 000 each as scholarship. They are expected to get the scholarship throughout their programme provided that they sustain their First Class.
122 students got N100, 000 each as IDPIL Bursary I beneficiaries and 83 students got N50, 000 each as beneficiaries of Bursary II. The bursary schemes are one – off.
IDPIL Executive Secretary, Otunba Ganiyu Olusegun Abiru speaking at the presentation acknowledged the visions of Ikorodu traditional rulers for initiating the group which has been contributing to the divisional developments in numerous ways.
“I am delighted because, IDPIL has continued to bear testament to the crop of highly visionary and cerebral royal fathers in Ikorodu Division, for envisioning the IDPIL as a strategic community based development vehicle for the security and overall development of our communities.
Since inception in 2021, IDPIL has touched virtually all strata of our community from security to health environment, street light installation and other numerous strategies interventions across the six local council areas in Ikorodu Division.
The IDPIL which started primarily as a child of necessity to address the rising security challenges being experienced across Ikorodu Division communities has now grown to become a community-based development engine.
The executive secretary listed some of the achievements of the group in the areas of health, construction of royal palaces, donation of buses, donation of air conditioning systems and generating sets, and installation of street lights among others.
While stating that the educational support is another bold step by the IDPIL, he also emphasised that the group is investing heavily in education because it considers it as a means of emancipation of individuals and the division.
“The 4th edition of IDIPL Multi-Million Naira Scholarship and Bursary Award presentation we are witnessing today is another bold statement. The Agenda is not a mere acronym but a clear-cut strategy for the overall development of Ikorodu Division.
We have identified Education as a tool for the emancipation and empowerment of the teeming Ikorodu Division youths, hence the humongous investment of the IDIPL towards supporting the development of our youths, and by extension our entire communities.
We have demonstrated this through the sustenance of this scholarship and Bursary Award which started in 2022. Till date, we have invested over N100 Million Naira in the scheme.
While appreciating its BOT Chairman, Odofin Adewunmi Ogunsanya and its management team, Otunba Abiru also charged beneficiaries to make the huge investments in them worth the while.
“To all our beneficiaries, I leave you with the Biblical admonition, ‘To whom much is given, much is expected’ Ikorodu Division, through the IDIPL has invested in your education, you owe it a duty to reciprocate this huge investment by studying hard and ensuring that you pass your exams in flying colours,” he said.
Hon. (Chief) Mrs. Adebimpe Akinsola, Chairman, Scholarship and Bursary Award Committee, in her own remarks described the initiative as a proud moment for the Ikorodu Division in supporting its future development.
“Today marks another proud moment for Ikorodu Division as we continue to support the education of our young people through this community-driven programme. For the fourth consecutive year, the Ikorodu Division Peace Initiative (IDIPL) is presenting scholarship and bursaries to hundreds of deserving undergraduates across various tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
Over the years, many students: indigenes and non-indigenes alike have benefited from this initiative. We are encouraged to see that past recipients have continued to excel in their studies and are making their families and our community proud.”
She commended the beneficiaries for scaling tests and interviews that they went through to be qualified for the award and charged them on the need to continue to sustain their academic excellence.
While also thanking parents for their efforts in bringing their children and wards up with good education, she also charged that they should also focus on ensuring that they are well -disciplined and imbibe good values.
The Chairman of the occasion who was a former Head of Service, Lagos State, Prince Adesegun Ogunlewe, described the IDPIL BOT Chairman as someone that is availing the less privileged who are brilliant the opportunity to excel.
“I appreciate and give kudos to Chief Adewunmi Ogunsanya, the Odofin of Ikorodu for initiating this life changing programme of assisting the less privileged but brilliant students in their education. Education is a foundation for freedom and progress. It is an undeniable means of tapping the talents deposited by God in every individual in the society. Without informal and formal education, those talents will be dormant in the individuals, this will invariably hinder peace and progress of the society.
We therefore thank Chief Adewunmi Ogunsanya for impacting on the life of these young ones positively in Ikorodu Division, Lagos State. The lesson therefore is that Chief Adewunmi Ogunsanya is planting the seed of Love in all of you who are beneficiaries of this scholarship programme as his neighbours in line with the commandments of God,” he submitted.
The two royal fathers, His Royal Majesties, Oba Mudashiru Ajibade Agoro, the Ranodu of Imota and Oba Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo in their royal remarks also commended the IDPIL for its impacts on the division.
Many of the beneficiaries expressed their appreciation for the support from the IDPIL and assured the group that they would not only disappoint as regards the trust in them but will also graduate to contribute their own quota to the development of Ikorodu Division.
Other dignitaries at the event were Omoba Ahmed Olalekan Aroyewun, Executive Chairman, Igbogbo-Baiyeku LCDA, Hon. Sunday Benson, Executive Chairman, Imota LCDA, Dr. Oladega Adebogun, MD/CEO Caleb Group of Schools and University, Hon. Nurudeen Solaja, former member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Alhaji Taiwo Odumbo, Education Secretary, LGEA Ikorodu.
