Kunle Adelabu & Maria Akinloye
-Council boss announces plans to rebuild Army Children School, rehabilitates others
The Executive Chairman, Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. Ameen Ibrahim Apanisile, has commended the Rhoda Youth Centre’s scholarship initiative across the Ikorodu Division, pledging to give his support starting with its next edition in 2026.
As part of his support, Apanisile pledged to sponsor an additional one pupil each from the 16 primary schools in his council to make it three pupils that would be benefitting from the scheme starting from next year.
He also announced his plans to rebuild Army Children’s Primary School, Odogunyan, and other schools within his jurisdiction, during the presentation of scholarship to pupils in his council at an event held at the Farm Settlement Primary School, Odogunyan.
A total of 32 pupils from the 16 public primary schools in Ikorodu North LCDA benefitted from the Rhoda Youth Centre’s scholarship which comes in form of provision of learning materials – school uniform, 12 pieces of 40 leaves exercise books each, one 20 leaves exercise book for writing, one drawing book, two pairs of white socks, a pair of sandals, and five pieces of pencils for each of the beneficiaries. They are expected to get the packages every year.
On the same day, 18 pupils from nine public primary schools in Ikorodu West LCDA gathered at Cherubim & Seraphim Primary School, Ogolonto, for their own package.
Hon. Ameen Apanisile, commending Rhoda Centre, said that the gesture by the organization is a support for his administration.
“I appreciate Asiwaju Rotimi Erogbogbo, and the entire Rhoda Youth Centre for the support and initiative to contribute to the development of education. I also want to thank our teachers who are now reaping their rewards on earth with increment on their salaries and other support. They are really trying and assisting us in moulding our future leaders.
“Since our resumption in office, our administration has been turning around the primary education sub -sector with our unique interventions. We are making Ikorodu North special.
“Although, these children were born by different parents, they are my children and in my care. I am the one responsible for making them go to school and have a good education and that is what I want to do. I thank Rhoda Centre for supporting and assisting me in doing part of my job”, he said.
He expressed his worry at the challenge being faced by children from poor homes in terms of feeding and provision of learning materials. Due to this, Apanisile announced for parents of the 32 pupils.
“I have heard about their stories that many of them wore torn uniforms to school, not well fed and come to school without learning materials and I know that it is not your problem but despite this challenging economic situation in the country, though, improving at the moment, you still deemed it fit to support these children.
“As my support for what Rhoda is giving to these pupils and the empowerment programme that Asiwaju Erogbogbo has pledged to give their parents, I will give all their mothers N100, 000 each. I will make the payment to the Rhoda and will in return distribute it to the mothers.
“In addition, I will also give them 25kg bags of rice each for the Xmas and New Year season. These are for them to give their children and family a good season and still have some at home beyond the season”.
Hon. Apanisile, emphasizing the effects of lack of food for children going to school, also announced empowerment for parents of the beneficiaries of the Rhoda Centre.
“I can’t fathom a situation whereby children go to school without food in their bellies. How do such pupils assimilate what he or she is being taught? Watching their colleagues eating in school, while they have nothing to eat is enough to crush such pupils mentally. The Morale of such pupils will definitely drop.
“This little financial support is meant for you to start something for yourself and support your children’s education. If you don’t have what to do with it yet, don’t collect it from Rhoda. Think of what to do with it before collecting it, because it is meant to empower you and not a donation.
“As your representative, I will continue to do my best and today, God has directed me to empower these mothers through Rhoda, and I want to believe that they would make good use of it.
To the children, Apanisile urged them: “Please, I want you children to concentrate on your education and be good kids. I know that you may not fully grasp all that we are saying now, but as time goes on, you will begin to remember everything and have a better understanding.
“Don’t give your parents trouble. I will support you too. I will add to the numbers of these beneficiaries with Rhoda Centre for next year’s edition in Ikorodu North LCDA. I will continue till the end of my administration.
“For next year, I will sponsor one pupil each from each school in Ikorodu North for the scholarship for next year to add to the two that Rhoda would be sponsoring.
Speaking on his administration’s efforts in improving education since about four months in the saddle, Hon. Apanisile said:
“Going round our schools, you will see that we have installed special water and toilet facilities to enhance sanitation in all our schools, thanks to Water Aid, Ikorodu North LCDA and Lagos State Government, for the full support in realizing these.
“You will realise that these facilities are better and of high qualities than what you will be seeing around elsewhere.
“We are also working on some schools that need rehabilitation like Army Children Primary School, Zumratul Primary School, and Idera Primary School. There are some that we have touched and made habitable, and we have also enjoyed interventions in some by Sen. Tokunbo Abiru and Rep. Babajimi Benson”.
He also requested more support from Rhoda Centre for more NGOs to support the council in the area of school rehabilitation.
“We need your organization in the area of bringing more NGOs to assist us in rehabilitating some of our schools, like the Army Children Primary School. The school needs total rebuilding and that is the biggest school that we have in Ikorodu North LCDA in terms of structure and land, unfortunately, the best place in that school is the toilet and the roof is bad.
“We are rebuilding the school with a huge sum of money and we are starting next year and we plan to complete it by mid -next year. What is delaying it at the moment is the approval and once we get it, we are going to commence work on it and we intend to use it to mark our one year in office.
“We are also going to fence the school.
“In addition, we are also moving to Idera Primary School, which, at the moment, is more or less a muchroom school. We plan to expand and extend the school structures. This is going to cost a fortune and that is why we are seeking partnership with NGOs and others.
“At Zumratul Primary School, we want to rebuild the ancient structure and expand it to provide more space for the pupils who are in large numbers in the school.
“We also intend to replace the old blackboards in many schools to white marker boards when school resumes next year. It is going to be about development and development next year, because we really want to give back to our people next year”, Hon. Apanisile assured
Asiwaju Rotimi Erogbogbo, founder, Rhoda Youth Centre, speaking earlier at the Farm Settlement Primary School, Odogunyan, thanked the Council Chairman for his administration’s efforts so far and how he has been making himself available for people.
He said that the Rhoda team went round the entire schools in the entire Ikorodu Division, to pick the beneficiaries for the scholarship.
He expressed his satisfaction at the way the current council chairmen across Ikorodu Division are performing.
Asiwaju Erogbogbo urged parents to do more in terms of sacrifice to aid their children’s upbringing, adding that Rhoda Centre is planning to empower them to get economic power.
He called the attention of Hon. Apanisile to the state of the Army Children’s Primary School, which he said needs urgent attention.
He assured pupils and stakeholders that the scholarship will continue throughout the beneficiaries’ stay in primary schools, while another set would be added next year.
