Kunle ADELABU
Nine students in various higher institutions and secondary schools in Ikorodu have benefitted from the scholarship offered by the Chairman, Ikorodu-Oga Development Association (IKOADASS), Otunba Ganiyu Olusegun Abiru, through Wahab and Kaos Memorial Foundation which he named after his parents.
The official presentation ceremony of the scholarship took place at the Regal hall, Adegbose Street in Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA) on Saturday, September 8, 2018.
Five of the beneficiaries, who are students in various higher institutions, received N50,000 each, while the remaining four students from various secondary schools received N25,000 each.
According to the management of the foundation , the scholarship award was put in place to assist indigent students who are doing well academically but whose parents are challenged financially.
The beneficiaries from the tertiary institutions are Obileye Ibrahim Damilare, 400L student of the Department of Chemistry, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Fashina Zuhairah Olayoyin, 300L student of Mechanical Engineering, Lagos State University (LASU), Oladosu Habiib, 300L student of Tai Solarin University of Education, Adeniyi Yusuf Olawa, 200L student of Federal University of Technology, Akure and Matti Mariam Morenike, a final year student of Finance, University of Lagos (UNILAG).
On the list of the beneficiaries in secondary schools are Oladipo Kayode, a Junior Secondary School 1 student, Yewa Grammar School, Ikorodu, Lawal Yemen, a Senior Secondary School 3 Student of Moslem School, Ijebu-Ode, Adenusi Sifiyat, Junior Secondary School 2 student, Shams-El-Deen Grammar School, Ikorodu and Afolabi Abosede, Senior Secondary School 3 Student, Shams-El-Deen Grammar School, Ikorodu.
Otunba Abiru, who is a senatorial aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), stated that the scholarship, which was instituted 8 years ago, is his own way of giving back to the society.
“It is my way of given back to the society and it has been on for eight years. When you give, it brings happiness and fulfillment. More importantly, the act of giving is a directive by Allah.
“I thank the board for their selfless service and commitment. They are not being paid, yet their commitments are outstanding.
“I also want to thank my wife who has been encouraging and supporting this programme. If I have not been receiving her support at home, how can I continue this gesture? She has been very wonderful and supportive in my act of impacting on the society”.
Addressing the beneficiaries, Otunba Abiru challenged them to justify the societal investment on them by facing their studies.
“To you students, I challenged you to strive harder in achieving success in your academic pursuits. You should think of nothing now except your schooling and pursue it to the extent of attaining successes.
“My desire for you is to see that you are all successful and also attain the position that you would also think of giving back to the society through gesture like this”.
He added that the board is not just giving away the scholarship but at same time, monitoring the beneficiaries.
“We are also monitoring your performances in your various schools to see if you are maintaining your academic standard. This is of great concern to us because what we are giving you is to ensure that you make academic successes and go ahead to achieve in life”, he added.
Also speaking, Mr Shakiru Saula, the Chairman of the board incharge of the scholarship award, described Otunba Abiru as a professional in politics who is determined to impact positively on the society.
He stated that Otunba Abiru was the one that requested to give out the scholarship while members of the board were hesitating to approach him because of his political engagement.
“In this clime, it is only a man with vision, commitment and true desire to help others that can think of other people while he is engaged in politics.
“He was the one that called on us that we should start the process of giving the bursary award while we are still hesitating of approaching him because of his political engagements.
“Those that approached him to contest the senatorial seat are visioners who have good intention of developing the society and they made the right choice of believing that he can change the face of our politics.
Meanwhile, the beneficiaries of the scholarship award were full of praises and prayers for Otunba Abiru for his exemplary gesture.
Adenusi Sifiyat, Junior Secondary School 2 student, Shams-El-Deen Grammar School, Ikorodu, while speaking with THE IMPACT stated, “I feel excited and I wish to tell him about my excitement because he has really assisted me a lot”.
Oladipo Kayode, a Junior Secondary School 1 student, Yewa Grammar School, Ikorodu, who also spoke with our reporter, stated, “I feel so happy because he has really impacted on me. God will replenish his pocket in many folds”.
Obileye Ibrahim Damilare, 400L student of the Department of Chemistry, University of Lagos (UNILAG), in his own remark, stated, “I feel wonderful and great. Presently, I cannot not even express how I feel because it’s very rare for a man that is so engaged in community development and other commitments to still have time for the masses”.
“It is very commendable of him because he is committed to people like us by availing us the opportunity to further our education. He believe in us and sees us as the future of the country which is why he’s investing in us. On behalf of the other beneficiaries, I am expressing our profound gratitudes to him for setting up a programme like this. May Almighty Allah continue to bless and protect him”, Obileye added.
