Kunle Adelabu
-Miss Ikorodu identifies with widows
120 pupils across three primary schools in Ikorodu were presented with uniforms and bursary awards today at the Ikorodu Town hall by the Ikorodu – Oga Development Association (IKODASS) as part of activities marking this year’s Ikorodu-Oga Day Celebration.
The beneficiaries were picked from Omolaye Primary School in Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area, Local Government (LG) Primary School, Ipakodo in Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area and Aga Primary School in lkorodu Local Government.
Some of the pupils from LG Primary School that benefitted from the gestures are Special Pupils who are deaf, blind and autistic among others.
According to report, 40 pupils were picked from the three schools to benefit from the free school uniform and bursary presentations by IKODASS.
The school children, in turn, sang various praise songs to appreciate IKODASS, their parents and teachers who attended the event at the Oteju hall section of the lkorodu Town hall.
Widows were also presented with packed dried food items by the current Miss Ikorodu, Miss Busayo Omosalewa Adenuga whose tenure has been extended to 2021.
Meanwhile, Otunba Ganiyu Olusegun Abiru, Chairman, IKODASS, in his speech at the presentation, stated that the socio – cultural group appreciated parents for their efforts over their children.
He assured them that IKODASS will continue to support educational development in Ikorodu.
“One of things that we can do to assist the community is to also empathise, sympathise and appreciate some of our parents who are struggling to send their children to school”, Otunba Abiru stated.
“These days, our fathers are not that bothered. I am not saying that they are not trying because I am also a father, but our mothers are doing the best. Our mothers are incomparable and golden. You must listen to what your parents tell you to do”.
While announcing the presentations, Otunba Abiru also stated that the socio – cultural group has programmes that would assist parents and uplift educational development of Ikorodu.
“Today, we are presenting uniforms in our little way to say that we appreciate the efforts of our parents and also identify with our pupils”, IKODASS Chairman announced.
“This is the beginning of the good things to come. This is just the first step. We will continue to do whatever we can to contribute to the educational development and we pray that God Almighty will give us the energy and money to be able to do all that we are planning to do”, he prayed.
He charged the pupils in attendance and othersto always appreciate their parents’ efforts in sending them to school and feeding them in the face of the present economic challenges in the country.
“You should always be thankful to your parents. God bless them that despite the situation of the economy, they are still clothing and sponsoring you to school. I can see that all of you are good looking. You should always appreciate them.
“You have to continue to pray for your beautiful parents. Without them, we cannot be anywhere. Your parents, unknown to you, do go without eating or buying new clothes so that they can send you to school and feed you.
“That is why you have to take your education seriously. The only thing that you can do to make your parents happy is to face your studies so that when you do your final primary school examinations, you will pass.
“You must also continue learning and pass in your secondary schools and also University level. That is the only way to make them happy when you become a doctor, engineer and others. Then, you will be their pride”, he charged them.
Otunba Abiru prayed that God will continue to provide for parents that are struggling to educate and send their children to schools while also charging the pupils to always pray for their parents.
He also charged teachers across schools in Ikorodu to teach their pupils and students the Ikorodu – Oga anthem which is usually being sang after the national anthem at any IKODASS function.
Master Mukaila Ogbara and some of the students that spoke thanked the IKODASS for the gestures.
Speaking with THE IMPACT, Miss Ikorodu, Busayo Omosalewa Adenuga, said that the food items donated to about 20 widows were in commemoration of her one year in office and also to identify with them.
IKODASS had earlier held Islamic and Christian prayer sessions at the Ikorodu Central Mosque and Patriarch Mobolaji Methodist Church respectively to kick started this year’s edition of the annual Ikorodu – Oga Carnival which, according to the organisers, will take a low key format.
Traditional prayers had also been held at various shrines across the Ikorodu town.
Other programmes slated for this year’s celebration are Commissioning of Boreholes in selected schools and public lectures on the theme, “Ikorodu Double Pursuit of Socio – Economic and Political Relevance”, sheduled to hold at the Ikorodu Town hall on Saturday, November 21, 2020.
