Wale Jagun & Mariam Akinloye
The representative of Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Rep. Babajimi Adegoke Benson, has introduced another initiative to support educational development and academic excellence in Ikorodu Division, as he sponsored Christmas shopping spree and hangout for pupils in public schools.
A total of 420 pupils from about 80 public primary schools across the Ikorodu Local Government and five Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) and 50 teachers took part in the hangout held at Sinomart Mall within the Palms Shopping Mall, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Mayor Muhydeen Sanwoola, the Executive Assistant to the Governor of Lagos State, Park Authority, who doubles as the Director -General, iCare Foundation, the working team of Rep. Benson, led the large delegation that also include members of iCare, council representatives and journalists in seven coastal buses and cars, with Alhaji Taiwo Odumbo, Education Secretary, Local Government Education Authority (LGEA), Ikorodu LG and others on hand to support him.
Pupils – participation in the initiative, which is a deliberate move to reward merit, promote healthy academic competition, and deepen his long-standing investment in education, emerged through a structured and performance-based process. From each participating primary school, the best-performing pupil in Primary One, Primary Two, Primary Three, Primary Four, Primary Five, and Primary Six was selected based strictly on academic results for the year. In addition, the overall best pupil from each school was also selected, ensuring that excellence was rewarded across all learning levels and that every school had multiple representatives.
The pupils were first treated to a cinema experience inside the mall, with popcorn and soft drinks served during the movie session. For many of them, it marked their first-ever visit to a cinema and their first experience of a leisure outing outside Ikorodu. This was followed by a shopping spree whereby pupils were granted the freedom to shop for items of their choice at Sinomart Mall. The teachers who accompanied the pupils were also appreciated with shopping vouchers in recognition of their roles in nurturing academic excellence.
Afterwards the cinema snacks, the pupils and teachers were later treated to packaged meals after the shopping exercise, further adding to the festive atmosphere.
Speaking during the excursion, Mayor Sanwoola, who represented the lawmaker, explained that that the Christmas Shopping and Hangout was designed to celebrate excellence, motivate pupils to aim higher, and inspire their peers to embrace diligence and discipline in their studies deliberately.
He noted that the initiative would be sustained as a yearly tradition, reinforcing the message that hard work and academic distinction attract recognition and reward.
Executive Chairman of Ikorodu North LCDA, Mayor Ameen Olawale Apanishile; Ikorodu West LCDA Chairman, Hon. (Chief) Sulaimon Kazeem Olanrewaju; Ijede LCDA Chairman, Hon. (Mrs.) Motunrayo Gbadebo-Alogba; and Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA Chairman, Omo’ba Hammed Ọlálékan Aroyewun and Vice Chairman, Imota LCDA, Hon. (Princess) Abisoye Jimoh, who expressed their support for the initiative of the federal representative, joined the convergence point in Ikorodu to boost the morale of pupils and teachers from their respective councils. They supported the initiative by topping up the shopping vouchers allocated to pupils from their respective councils.
The Education Secretary, Alhaji Taiwo Odumbo, commending the initiative described it as a worthwhile experience that would shape the pupils’ perception and give them a sense of belonging.
“Coming here and getting the exposure is another experience outside the classroom that will help shape these pupils so much. It’s another way of giving them that feeling that they have not been left behind. This would also enable them to compete favourably with their colleagues in the private sector that are exposed through excursion and other activities like this.
“This is so amazing for the pupils including their teachers as well.
“It is not only pupils that are having this experience, we also have teachers, staff from the LGEA with about five head of sections present and also officials of the Quality Assurance and other stakeholders in the primary education sub – sector as part of the team.”
Several of the pupils that spoke with THE IMPACT, described the experience as unforgettable, expressing excitement at watching movies in a cinema and independently selecting items during the shopping exercise.
Ekpanellie Iniobong, a pupil of Basic Six, Anglican Primary School, Isawo, Ikorodu West LCDA crooned,
“I want to thank Hon. Babajimi Benson for this lifetime experience. I am happy to be here because I have watched movies in the cinema and I learnt from the cartoon that we watched that we should be helpful to others.
“I have also shopped during which I picked many things. I am so happy because I have never come here before.”
Rodiat Lateef, also Basic Six pupil of Salvation Army Primary School, Ikorodu LG, also sharing her experience, said:
“I enjoyed being here today. I was picked because of my academic performance in school and I appreciate this kind gesture from Hon. Babajimi Benson. I enjoyed the movie in the cinema, which was a cartoon and we also went shopping.”
Another participant, Suzan Kalu, a Primary Four pupil of Agodo Alara Community Primary School, Ikorodu North LCDA, in her own submission to THE IMPACT noted:
“I participated alongside other pupils in watching movies at the cinema and also embarked on shopping for desired items at the mall. Thanks to Hon. Benson who sponsored the trip to motivate and encourage us to do more in our education.
“ was picked among my colleagues because I performed excellently in my academics.”
Aminat Ibrahim of Nursery 1, a pupil of Togedejoye Nursery and Primary Community Primary School, who also said that her academic performance earned her a ticket to the mall expressed her joy at participation.
“The reason I am here is because I did so well in my academic performance. My experience was great and I love this place.
“I have never been here before, but I have been around Victoria Island. I really like the movie they showed in the cinema today. They should be expecting more in my academic performance,” she assured.
A primary five pupil of Omolaye Community Primary School, Zikrullah Zikrullah described his experience as awesome.
“My experience when I got to this place which I have never been to before was awesome, and I had so much fun at the cinema where I watched a cartoon movie.
“It was a beautiful atmosphere for us and they gave us popcorn during our movie and table water.
“I was also selected due to my academic performance in school,” he added.
The Christmas Shopping and Hangout once again underscores Rep. Babajimi Benson’s people-centred representation and consistent emphasis on education, youth development, and merit-based encouragement across Ikorodu Federal Constituency.
