Kunle Adelabu
-Honours Best Schools, Students in Maths Competition
The Ikorodu Division Resources Development Group (IDRDG) has presented the sum of N1.7million to 17 students from Ikorodu in various higher institutions as part of the group’s educational support initiative.
At the presentation of cheques during the IDRDG meeting held at the Gbadamosi Conference Room, Ikorodu Ultra – Modern Town Hall, Ikorodu, on Sunday, September 4, 2022, awards were also presented to schools and students who emerged winners in the Mathematics competition organized by the group.
Keme Balogun Senior College, Ibeshe in Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA), emerged winner of the competition with aggregate score of 131 to beat Zumratul Islamiyyah Senior Grammar School, Igbogbo also in Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA and Oriwu Senior Model College, Ikorodu, both of which were tied on the same aggregate scores of 103.
Master Ogodo C. Moses of Keme Balogun Senior College, Ibeshe, emerged best Mathematics student in Ikorodu Division, while Master Iyiade Boluwatife also of Keme Balogun Senior Model College and Master Emmanuel Caleb of Zumratul Islamiyyah Senior Grammar School emerged first and second runners–up respectively.
Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, Chairman, IDRDG, speaking with THE IMPACT, said that the prizes for the Mathematics competition and scholarship were meant to encourage students from Ikorodu to perform better in their academic pursuit.
He added that beneficiaries would receive the scholarship throughout the duration of their studies.
“Last year, we conducted a Mathematics competition, and today we gave awards to the winners: Keme Balogun Grammar School, Ibeshe, which came first, Zumratul Islamiyyah Grammar School, Igbogbo, which emerged second and Oriwu Senior Model College, Ikorodu, which came third”, Sen. Ogunlewe said.
“We had so many undergraduates who are from Ikorodu Division who we interviewed and they did very well with some of them scoring 4.90, 4.71 and other good grades and we thought that we should encourage them.
“We gave them awards to be IDRDG Scholars and the award last for the duration of their courses”, he added.
The IDRDG Chairman also said that the scholarship award will be reviewed on yearly basis to ensure that students maintain their grade which qualify them for the scholarship.
“We will be reviewing it ever year. We gave them on the basis of excellence. They have shown competency in their fields of study such as medicine and other courses”, former Minister for Works said.
“We need to give them more scholarships. The more we encourage them with scholarship, the more they would prosper in life and rely on the community. Community must give support to these children so that in future, they would have commitment to serve the community. That is crucial. As a community, we must make sure that we have interest in them and they would reciprocate in future.
Prof. Ajetunmobi M.A, Vice Chairman, IDRDG Scholarship and Training Committee and a retired Professor of Mathematics, Lagos State University (LASU), was full of appreciation for the leadership of Sen. Ogunlewe for the improvement in educational development brought about by the group, while he also commended the students’ performances.
“We must give credit to the Chairman, Sen. Ogunlewe. He is the brain behind all the things that you are seeing today”, the Professor of Mathematics said.
“The mathematics competition was extraordinary. The level was so high to the extent that questions that 100level students are battling with were set for them. It was an abstract examination and not arithmetic at all and they did extremely very well. The performance was very high.
“Secondly, I am really surprised with the performances of students from Keme Balogun, The school is doing extremely very well. They came first as school and the first two students are also from Keme. So, you can see the brilliant performances of that school.
On the scholarship, Prof. Ajetunmobi also ascribed the success to the Group’s Chairman who he said motivated the execution of the awards.
“We tried the scholarship award in 2020, but we couldn’t give any prize because of COVID – 19 pandemic, but when the Chairman, Sen. Ogunlewe came on board, he insisted that we must go ahead with it. That was how we started this process”, Prof. Ajetunmobi said.
“Ogunlewe himself donated a million naira endowment, particularly for students that are studying medicine. Other members too contributed and we still have lot of money for subsequent scholarship and bursary.
“I can tell you that the idea is to encourage students in Ikorodu Division to do more. We are giving each of them a hundred thousand naira for a session. That is good to start with”, he added.
The Principal, Keme Balogun Senior College, Ibeshe, Mr Olagoke D.O., also speaking with THE IMPACT, said that the initiative of Sen. Ogunlewe to support the learning of Mathematics and other courses in various schools has helped the school in emerging first in the competition.
He assured that the school would not relent on its oars.
“I am happy for the award. The secret lies in the concept of hard work. About two years ago, I had an interaction with Sen. Ogunlewe and through one of my teachers, Mrs Ekeolere, he helped us to syndicate a Mathematics Club”, the Principal disclosed.
“He donated some materials – books and phones with which we started the club. To God be the glory, this is one of the results. That particular incentive from Sen. Ogunlewe has really helped us to developed Mathematics as a subject in our school, as well as the development of other subjects.
“So, this is one of the successes recorded because of that laudable programme by Sen. Ogunlewe
“We want to assure the organisers of this programme that the best is yet to come. We would sustain the tempo of that 100% recorded in the last WASSCE and by the grace of Almighty God, we are still looking forward to a greater height.
“To the IDRDG, I want to express my sincere appreciation to the organisers; those old men who smare sacrificing their money and time to develop education in Ikorodu Division, I wish them successes and healthy life. I pray that God will help them sustain their homes and this laudable project”, he said.
The best Mathematics student in Ikorodu Division, Master Ogodo Chukwudi Moses said that he was very excited with the prize which he said he worked very hard for.
“I am very impressed and happy about the award by the IDRDG. I was over excited when I heard about it. I really thank God that my efforts has been crowned and I pray that Lord should use this medium to connect me with those that would affects my future positively and when I am somebody in life, I will make sure that I give back to the society, especially Ikorodu”, he said.
He also thanked IDRDG for creating the platform to exhibit his Mathematical prowess.
IDRDG Best scholar with 4.94 CGPA, Ijaodoro Aina Aminat Omobolanle, Medicine Science, College of Medicine, Lagos State University, stated that the financial support would strengthen her academic performance in school.
“My family is not financially buoyant but we are also not struggling. This scholarship will help strengthen my academic performance and l would also use it to get some academic materials that I will be needing for my Nursing profession”, she said.
“I am really grateful that I am part of the awardees today because I don’t know how things would have worked out for me without the scholarship, but Alhamdullahi, I am here today and I thank IDRDG for this scholarship”, she added.
Ogunsanmi Daniel Ayomide, a student of Dentistry and Dental Surgery, Lagos State University (LASU), who emerged as second best scholar 4.90 CGPA, said that the scholarship will greatly enhance his studies.
“This scholarship will help me a lot in many ways. It’s going to allow me pay for my school fees, buy textbooks and other materials. I really appreciate the Ikorodu Division Resources Development Group for granting us this opportunity to be happy person”, he said.
“This scholarship would definitely encourage me to sustain my grade in school by working hard, pay attention in classes and attending lectures regularly”.
