Kunle ADELABU
-Gives scholarship awards to 29 higher institution students
The Ijede Development Foundation (IDF) has launched an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre to cater for the technological advancement of the primary school pupils in Ijede Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Ikorodu Division of Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria.
Alhaji Fola Salu, Chairman of IDF, stated that the proposed centre would help in solving the problem confronting primary schools in the community.
He also appealed to donors to support the project during the 2018 scholarship awards, quiz and debate and public lecture organised by IDF held at Ijede Town hall in Ijede on Saturday, October 20, 2018.
The theme for this year’s lecture, which was delivered by Dr. Simeon Tunji Dosunmu, was, “Ijede: The Hindsight, The Insight and The Foresight”.
In this year’s quiz competition, Alake Nursery & Primary School, Tayowa College, Igbe, and Hadex Comprehensive College, Ijede, emerged winners in the primary, junior and senior secondary schools categories respectively.
In the debater competition, Hadex Nursery & Primary, Hadex Comprehensive College and Luwasa Senior High School emerged winners in the primary, junior and senior secondary schools category respectively
Meanwhile, Alhaji Salu, in his address, said:
“In the course of the year, a head teacher of a primary school within the community approached the Foundation on the challenges confronting the pupils in the acquisition of computer training knowledge.
“The teacher complained that the pupils in primary schools in Ijede have to travel to Ikorodu to attend weekly computer training classes. Obviously, the cost of transporting these pupils is unbearable to the schools.
“I, hereby, used this medium to appeal to philanthropists, cooperate organizations and well-wishers to support the launching of of an ICT Centre which will solve the lingering problem confronting the primary schools”, Alhaji Salu appealed.
The chairman, who stated that there has been increment in the number of bursary award donors every year since inception in 2016, announced that 29 students across various higher institutions benefited from this year’s edition.
“I am happy to report that the number of our Bursary- Award sponsors has continued to increase. In our first year, there were ten (10) awards. Last year (2017), the number of the sponsors rose to twenty-three (23) and this year (2018), the bursary awards have further increased to 29 (Twenty-nine). This is obviously a clear reflection of the trust that you have all reposed in us. We are profoundly grateful”, he announced.
“This year, IDF shall present 29 bursary awards and valuable prizes for Quiz and Debate competitions in the three categories, Primary School, Junior Secondary School and Senior Secondary School. Written tests and interview were conducted and concluded on Saturday, 22nd September, 2018, at Anwarul Islam Primary School, Ijede. Thirty students wrote the exam but only 16 met our requisite grades”, IDF Chairman said.
The Chairman, however, appealed to the members of the public to come to the aid of the Foundation by supporting the funding of its numerous programmes.
“The running costs and logistics of these two competitions are increasing by the year. We, therefore, now appeal for additional sponsorship to cushion the efforts and contributions of IDF members to maintain the set standards.
He also announced that special awards for excellence would be presented to students that obtain First Class in any discipline and distinction in Medicine and Law.
“I am highly elated to inform you, all our children studying in higher institutions of learning that Special Awards for excellence are awaiting those that are able to obtain first class in their degree results while Dr. Ganiy. I. Agbaje has also pledged the sum of One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100, 000.00) for graduate/ graduates that make 1st class grade.
“Similarly, Dr. Nurudeen Ola Olambiwonwu has also pledged big prizes for graduates of distinction in Medicine and Law. These big challenges have now been thrown to students to excel and become proud recipients of these juicy awards.
In his address, the Chairman of the occasion, Dr Ganiy I. Agbaje, Fnis, the Executive Director, African Regional Centre for Space Science & Technology Education In English (ARCSSTEE), a body affiliated to the United Nations, commended IDF for its professionalism and accountability.
“Let me use this medium to express my sincere gratitude to the Chairman and the entire members of Ijede Development Foundation for the display of honesty, accountability and professionalism in the way and manner the programme is being handled for the past five years.
“My appreciation will be incomplete without appreciating the IDF Pioneer Chairman in the person of our respectable father, an educationist personified, a trailblazer, Alhaji Amusa Adegbola whose foundational ideas shaped the future direction of IDF. Thank you Baba. Today, everybody of note want to be associated with IDF. Soon, IDF members would be serving as Consultant to communities across the state on how best to set up this kind of foundation”.
He also announced an increment in his annual sponsorship of his bursary awards for the Foundation
“It is my pleasure to inform you that I have increased sponsorship for the bursary awards to N250, 000 annually. This decision was based on my inner most conviction/trust in the organizers. The best legacy we can bequeath this community for an enduring sustainable development is Education, Education, and Education”.
Dr Tunji Dosunmu in his paper, which was divided into three parts – The Hindsight, The Insight and The Foresight, stated that Ijede is under-reported.
“Perhaps, the place, the people, the politics, power play, peace, pollutions and pleasures of Ijede people are probably the most fascinating but scantily documented elements of our history.
Looking at the community and its people from hindsight, the lecturer described the Ijede people as productive people who work for the development of their community.
“The inhabitants were majorly hunters while some others were dexterous fishermen. Men and women worked according to their capabilities to uplift this town from its doldrums.
“To mention just a few examples, Baba Igbe stood out in hunting; Imams Arikewuyo and Baba Reke promoted and piloted the Islamic front gallantly; Baba Asa – Ojikutu and Oloritun, were tantalizingly the heads of the Apejas; Chief Onilado took great care of – Remireke festivals and transferred to them to the Saminus while Eluku was jealously harboured by the – Olambiwonus; many teachers had come and gone but Dosunmu the ‘Tisa Agba’, Chief Salu and Mr. Ajayi formed a formidable trio when it come to extending the frontiers of knowledge. Sacrosanct to the Kings was peace in their domain”, the lecturer stated.
“In Ijede, everyone was skilled in at least one profession – farming, fishing, drumming, dancing, and weaving and so on. Almost every family had agbada garri or fufu. Environments were clean and families were linked to each other.
Analyzing the community from the insight, Dr Dosunmu stated:
“Intricacies in relationships have increased and that was signaled early in the 80s with the coming of Egbin Thermal Station. Trees are giving way to palatial buildings and the ambience Ijede used to know is tampered with. The political turf has witnessed alignments and re-alignments. Ijede should rejoice that the children of yester years are making waves today.
In the concluding part of the paper which spoke about Ijede from hindsight, the lecturer called for the promotion of historical and political events, safe environment, and education for young and adult populace, recreational activities, collective decision taking and networking for Ijede community to engender development.
Four individuals were conferred with merit awards for their track records, outstanding performances and contribution to the upliftment of the IDF in particular and community in general.
The awardees are Rotarian Ademola Samusideen Olutusin (Role Model Award as a worthy Ambassador of Ijede), Hadex Group of Schools (The Most consistent School in the IDF Quiz and Debate competition since 2014), Mr. Chike Uzoechi of Luwasa Senior High School, Ijede (the Most Outstanding Teacher in the Debate category of the competition) and Mr. Oyewole Olusegun Habeeb (Award of Excellence for his contribution to the success of IDF Quiz and Debate competition since inception).
Other dignitaries at the well-attended event which was anchored by Mr Olakunle Aliasu Matti, the General Secretary, IDF, were Hon. Salisu Fatiu Jimoh, Chairman, Ijede LCDA, High Chief Musediku Alliu Kayode, the Regent/Olisa of Ijede, Mr Kunle Olanbiwonninu, Secretary to the Ijede LCDA and Alhaji Lanre Kuye, Deputy Registrar (Information) Lagos State Polytechnic among others.
