Kunle Adelabu
-Guests, school honour, commend former Commissioner
As part of programmes lined – up for the 70th birthday anniversary of Asipa Kaoli Olatunji Olusanya, the Asipa of Ikorodu Kingdom and Founder/Chief Learning Officer, Kit and Kin Educational Schools (KKES), a bock of 6 classrooms and 12 toilet facilities at the Salvation Army Primary School, Ikorodu, which he fully rehabilitated, has been commissioned and handed – over to the management of the school.
Kaoli, who was a former Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives in Lagos State, also handed over 300 tables and chairs to be used in the classrooms, while ceiling fans were also installed in all the classes.
The school presented Asipa Kaoli with an award during the commissioning and rendered birthday songs alongside with the guests to appreciate him.
The Ikorodu – Oga Development Association (IKODASS) also presented the former Commissioner with another award in recognition of his contributions to education.
The Ayangbure of Ikorodu, His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi, commissioned the block of classrooms, supported by the Chairman, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LSUBEB), Hon. Wahab Olawale Alawiye – King, Chairman, Permanent Member, LSUBEB, Executive Vice Chairman, Ikorodu Local Government and National Chairman, Association of Local Government Vice Chairmen of Nigeria, Hon. (Princess) Folashade Olabanji Oba, Mr Rotimi Erogbogbo, Chairman, Ikorodu – Oga Development Association (IKODASS), Education Secretary, Ikorodu Local Government, Alhaji Amusa Afolabi and Member, Governing Council, Lagos State University of Education, Ijanikin, Dr Wole Ajifowoke among others.
Asipa Kaoli, speaking with THE IMPACT, said that his intervention was informed by the need to give back to the society and building an everlasting legacy by helping young ones developed.
“The value that I hold dear to myself and very passionate about is the training of little children. It is from what you train a child for and engrave in his heart that he would get his imagination and which he would try to achieve and you can only do that with quality education”, he said.
“If you look at our environment, you would see that there is need to intervene in the lives of the ordinary people. We all come from very humble and poor backgrounds and we should not remain like this.
“In order not to remain poor, the few people that are endowed should, in one way or the other, look at our society and try to give back; to raise more people to at least above a reasonable level of where they can start helping themselves.
“That was what informed my intervention and the area that I want to impact and live a legacy is education. Why because I believe that to get out of vicious circle of poverty and ignorance, what you should give is education.
“When I visited this place which incidentally falls under my Ward and within the where I was born, in fact, I started schooling in this school when it was at the Salvation Army Church, I saw the dilapidated condition of the school and I was moved. There and then, I took it upon myself to give back to my school, my home and community and that is what we are doing here”, Asipa Kaoli said.
Oba Shotobi commissioning the structure, commended Asipa Kaoli whom he said has been bringing about educational developments in Ikorodu. He also wished the donor long life.
“When we learnt about the situation in this schools, I cried out for assistance. This is not the first school that Asipa Kaoli will build or rehabilitate. He has constructed a block of classrooms at Mowo Kekere”, the royal father said.
“He is also providing scholarship for students in Ikorodu.
“You are just starting your life and 70 years is just the beginning of another segment in life. You will live long to enjoy your life.
“What you have done has been known and will be appreciated by this school, Itunmoja community and entire lkorodu.
“He has always been identifying with us in whatever tradition that we are doing despite been a Christian.
“May God be with you. I want to thank you for the honor that you have done to our children, our future and tomorrow”.
The LSUBEB Chairman, Hon. Wahab Alawiye – King, speaking with THE IMPACT, also commended the former Commissioner for his intervention and support for government in providing conducive learning atmosphere for pupils.
Alawiye – King, who also said that facilities available are not enough for the demands for education, appealed to privileged individuals and bodies to emulate Asipa Kaoli in developing the educational sector.
Pupils of Salvation Army Primary School with Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, Oba Kabir Shotobi, Hon. Alawiye – King and other guests at the commissioning
“We must use this time to appreciate and commend Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, because insufficient quantities has always been a major problem in education and he has been able to support us in term of bringing about the necessary requirements in making our schools better place for our students”, he said.
“We need a conducive learning and teaching environment to improve the quality of education that our pupils are getting in schools. That is the reason we will continue to appreciate and commend Kaoli for what he is doing for us.
“Ikorodu, though, a traditional community, but I must also say that it is an emerging community because of the fact that people are coming here on a daily basis to find a better place to reside and as such, they bring along their bagage and luggage with them. They come with their wards who need to go to school.
“As part of our mandate, we must provide education but due to the insufficient quantity like I have mentioned, we require intervention. That is why we are appealing to public – spirited individuals, friends and non – state actors who are concerned about developing our nation should come to our aid and assist us and that is what Kaoli Olusanya is doing for us today. We appreciate Papa for this”, Hon. Alawiye – King said.
Asipa Kaoli Olusanya (middle), Hon. Alawiye – King (2nd right), Dr Saheed Ibokunle (2nd left), Dr Wole Ajifowoke (right) and Otunba Dare Odufowokan at the commissioning of the block of classrooms rehabilitated by Asipa Kaoli.
Alhaji Amusa Afolabi, Education Secretary, Ikorodu Local Government, described Asipa Kaoli’s intervention has fantastic.
“He has actually tried. He started the rehabilitation from the roof and provide toilets and donated tables and benches. This is fantastic and I will ensure that the school maintain the facility”.
Arebirin (Princess) Olabanji Folashade Oba, Executive Vice Chairman, Ikorodu Local Government and National Chairman, Association of Local Government Vice Chairmen of Nigeria, said that Asipa Kaoli is a leader who has dedicated his life to helping others.
“This is very awesome. I want to say a very big thank you and that we are forever grateful for our quintessential leader, father and mentor. He has dedicated his life to impacting others and I am one of the beneficiaries”, Princess Oba said.
“These children are the greatest assets that we have not just for this community but they will still go on to impact the world and creating a more enabling environment for them to learn which is so much needed and which our leader who is a pathfinder and mentor to many is doing, is a welcome development.
“He is not someone that makes lots of noise about his impactation or whatever he does. I can only pray for him that God will continue to bless him for what I have seen here today. This generation and more to come will celebrate him. We are bless to have him”.
It was also commendations galore from the manager and pupils of the school.
Mrs Memud Temilade Ramota, Head Teacher, Salvation Army Primary School, Ikorodu, speaking with our reporter, said:
Mr Rotimi Erogbogbo, Chairman, Ikorodu – Oga Development Association (IKODASS) presenting award to Asipa Kaoli (2nd right). With them, Oba Shotobi, Hon. Alawiye- King, Princess Folashade Oba and other guests.
“I feel great and excited. For us in this school, this is a great opportunity. When I came to this school in 2022, I was disturbed but today, I am facing another reality that Hon. Asipa Kaoli Olatunji Olusanya, has changed the school and make it more conducive”, she said.
“We are very happy and grateful to him.
“I appeal to other privilege individuals to come to the aid of educational by helping with the renovation and rehabilitation of schools that need their helps in order to move teaching and learning forward”.
Abudusallam Wasiu, the School Head Boy, in his own remarks, said:
“I feel very happy and I feel happy because there are fans, good windows, tables and chairs. All these will help us read and learn very well. God will bless Asipa”.
Asipa Kaoli in group photograph with Alhaji Amusa, Education Secretary (2nd left), Mrs Memud, Head Teacher, Salvation Army Primary School, Ikorodu (2nd right), Hon. Folashade Oba, Vice Chairman, Ikorodu LG and Mr Seun Elesho, General Secretary, IKODASS at the commissioning.
A Primary 4 pupil in the school, Alliu Malik Onifade, said:
“I feel excited moving from the old classroom to this new one. The impact is great. It would make us study and learn very well.
“God will continue to bless Asipa Kaoli Olusanya. May he never fail in life”.
Chidi Steven, a Primary five pupil, also speaking, said:
“I feel good moving into this new classroom and I appreciate what they have done for us. It will positively affect our studies very well because it is conducive.
“I thank Asipa Kaoli for the good job. God will continue to bless him”.
Also, Yusuf Ibukun, a Primary 5 pupil also said:
“We all feel good and excited for what they have done for our school. Our school is now beautiful and I want to thank the donor and also appeal for more help in rehabilitating another block of classrooms”.
