Mariam Akinloye
The distribution of learning materials by Rhoda Youth Centre has continued to receive commendations from stakeholders in the education sector and community as the train of progress on Tuesday proceeded to Ijede and Imota Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) to extend its scholarship to pupils in Ikorodu Constituency.
While 10 pupils benefitted from the five schools in Ijede LCDA, 16 pupils received the Rhoda Centre gesture from 8 public primary schools in Imota LCDA, with each beneficiary receiving a school bag, school uniform, 12 pieces of 40 leaves exercise books, one 20 leaves exercise book for writing, one drawing book, two pairs of white socks, a pair of sandals, and five pieces of pencils each. They are expected to get the packages every year.
Methodist Primary School, Oke – Eletu hosted the distribution for Ijede and L.G. Primary School hosted the Imota distribution.
Asiwaju Rotimi Erogbogbo, founder Rhoda Youth Centre, at the Oke -Eletu distribution centre, emphasised that the initiative was about safeguarding and protecting the children who are the future of the community.
He charged parents and other stakeholders to support governments in moulding the children and supporting their education.
“This programme is all about how we can make our community better; safeguard our children and protect the future of our children. It starts with how we take care of them from now with the food that they eat; the education that we impact on them and how we look after them.
“It is the responsibilities of the parents and that is why we have invited you here aside from giving them these scholarship which is going to be a continuous programme
“We must look after them and prevent them from social vices and bad behaviours and we as parents and the community at large have the duty to safeguard them, protect them and train them in a good way to be good ambassadors.
“Ikorodu as a community is bleeding and requires every one of us to speak out and collectively change the situation,” he said.
While commending the government for improvement in facilities across schools, the retired public servant also called for more to make schools more conducive for teachers and pupils.
“I have gone round the schools; I have seen the impacts of the government in encouraging our teachers. There was a school where teachers have air conditioning in their staff room and there was another that had a television. That is what we want in all our schools and facilities like these must go round.
“This is what we are expecting to see to make our schools conducive for teachers and pupils. Government must do more and the community must support the government in this regard.”
He also reiterated the plans of Rhoda Centre to support the parents with empowerment to be able to take care of their children.
Vice Chairman, Ijede LCDA, Hon. Femi Kabir, appreciated the intervention of Rhoda Youth Centre in assisting the government in investing in the future of the children.
He emphasised the importance of giving children good upbringing and good education stating that they are the ones that would be in-charge in future and how they manage such a community depends on the investment put into them today.
He too charged parents to discharge their responsibilities to their children to also ensure their future.
Hon. Kabir charged pupils on the need to take good care of the materials given to them and ensure they develop the mind of giving back to the society in future.
Alhaji Taiwo Odumbo, Education Secretary, Local Government Education Authority (LGEA), Ikorodu who sang a song to urge all the stakeholders to be involved in the education development in Ikorodu and Lagos State as a whole, commended Rhoda Centre for its impact on education.
“I appreciate the Rhoda Youth Centre for this gesture. I have known Asiwaju Erogbogbo for many decades and what he is doing through his centre is just a tip of the iceberg because I am expecting more from him and I am sure that he is going to do more in supporting education. Thank you very much,” he said.
Eletu Adeniyi Ajayi, Eletu of Oke -Eletu, in his royal speech thanked Rhoda Youth Centre for the support being extended to the pupils in his community.
He commended Hon. Motunrayo Gbadebo -Alogba, Chairman, Ijede LCDA and her entire team for her impacts on education with yearly Back -to -School Initiative through which she donates education materials to pupils across the Ijede LCDA, construction of perimetre fence round Methodist Primary School, OKE -Eletu and the multiple blocks of classroom that she has just constructed in various schools.
