Kunle Adelabu
-Charges pupils on importance of education
Former acting Commissioner for Tourism and Special Adviser on Arts & Culture in Lagos State and the Oluomo of Igbogbo kingdom, Chief (Mrs) Hon. Adebimpe Akinsola, on Monday, October 4, 2021, visited schools in Igbogbo to donate educational items as part of the activities marking the celebration of her 60th birthday anniversary.
Akinsola, who also represented the Ikorodu Constituency II in the Lagos State House of Assembly for a term, visited three schools – United African Methodist Church (U.A.M.C.) Eleja Primary School, Igbogbo, Methodist Primary School and Ansar – Ul- Deen (A.U.D.) Primary School also in Igbogbo, to donate school uniforms, writing materials and crates of eggs.
The frontline politician clocks 60 today.
It was a nostalgic experience as the celebrant went back to her former primary school, U.A.M.C (Eleja), Igbogbo, A.U.D. Primary School, Igbogbo, where she began her teaching career. At both schools, the former teacher, who retired after his election into the Lagos Assembly in 2011, addressed the pupils on the Assembly ground.
The celebrant and her team also visited the first primary school in Igbogbo, Methodist Primary School, where she took her time to engage pupils in their various classes.
Addressing the pupils of U.A.M.C, Hon. Akinsola announced that she was once a pupil like them and later a teacher, lawmaker and a Commissioner and charged them that they can be anything that they set as their own goals if they study very well.
She said that the gesture was part of her programmes to give back to the community.
“I was a pupil in this school like you are today. My classroom used to be at that side (pointing to the a side) but the structure is no longer in existence today”, she recalled with nostalgia.
“I was also a teacher and I started my teaching career at A.U.D. Igbogbo.
“I used to be an athlete when I was in school and one of the best. I also participated in cultural activities and at the end of every school day, I usually walked to Lagos road to get loaves of bread and sell them as my own way of assisting my parents.
“Despite that, I was the best in my class academically. I am proud to be a student of U.A.M.A Eleja, Igbogbo.
“This great school has produced many great people that are doing well in the country and in diasporas” .
While stating her accomplishments to inspire the pupils, Hon. Akinsola also charged them not to join bad gangs.
“Don’t join bad gangs, focus on your education to be good ambassadors. With that, you can be anything that you want to be in life”, she charged them.
“I was once a student, later a teacher because of my education. I retired and I was elected as a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly and later a Commissioner and member of the State Executive Council”.
The former Commissioner for Tourism said that her mission was to support the students with school uniforms and writing materials.
“I am here today to give my little support to some students whose parents cannot afford school uniforms and writing materials for no fault of theirs but because they do not have the financial capacity.
“This is just a pilot scheme, I intend to improve on it and continue the gesture as part of my own support for education”, she added.
At the Methodist Primary School and A. U. D Primary School, the celebrant also charged pupils to take their education seriously and be good ambassadors of their families, community and the country as a whole.
Mrs Ogunfeyimi Mary Oladunni, the Head Teacher, Methodist Primary School, described Hon. Akinsola’s gesture as a good one that will open further interventions for the school and pupils.
“It is a good gesture and I know that many other good things will follow. We thank her and we are really appreciative of her intervention. It is very commendable”, she said.
“Other privileged individuals should also emulate her good gesture”.
Miss Gift Sunday, a Primary 5 pupil of A.U.D Primary School, Igbogbo, speaking with THE IMPACT on Hon. Akinsola’s gesture, said:
“I thank Hon. Akinsola for giving us this uniforms and writing materials. This is really good”.
Abdul – Rahman Adesola, a pupil of Primary 2 in A.U. D Primary School, speaking, said:
“I feel great to be one of the beneficiaries and l thank her (Hon Akinsola)”.
Osuji Chidera, a Primary 5 pupil in A.U.D Primary School, said:
“I feel very happy about this uniform”.
Mrs Toyin Aroyewun , a member of the planning committee and Chieftain of Women of Substance, while also commending Hon. Akinsola for the gesture said that her intervention would go a long way in encouraging the students especially those that benefitted to be committed to their education and also let them know the importance of given back when they too are in position.
In the entourage of the former Commissioner during the visitations to the schools, were Mr Ojulari, the Chairman of the Planning Committee for the 60th birthday celebration and Comrade Kehinde Okeowo, Chieftain of Women of Substance in Ikorodu Division and among others.
