Kunle Adelabu & Mariam Akinloye
Three of the 195 students that benefited from the Scholarship, Bursary I and Bursary I I awards worth N20millon carrying their cheques presented by the Ikorodu Division Peace Initiative Limited on Saturday, September 10, 2022. Other beneficiaries are behind them.
Top government functionaries in the educational sector have commended the Ikorodu Division of Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, for its educational initiative while charging other parts of the state to emulate its encouraging intervention towards enhancing academic excellence.
The Secretary, Lagos State Scholarship Board, Mr Abdul-Rahmah Lekki and the Commissioner for Education, Mr Folashade Olufisayo, gave the charge at the presentation of scholarship and bursary awards to 195 students in Ikorodu.
The beneficiaries, which included both indigenes and residents of Ikorodu in various higher institutions, were presented with scholarship and bursary awards by the Ikorodu Division Peace Initiative/GTE (IDPIL/GTE) at a presentation ceremony at the Adeboruwa palace on Saturday, September 10, 2022.
While 12 students won scholarship awards worth N200, 000 each , N100, 000 each were presented to 135 students who were on the Bursary I list and N50, 000 each presented to 48 students in Bursary II category.
The maiden scholars were to enjoy the scholarship throughout their programmes provided they can maintain their academic CGPA.
Mr AbdulRahman Lekki, Secretary, Lagos State Scholarship Board, speaking at the presentation, lauded the initiative which he described as worthy of emulation.
While stating that he has never witnessed such initiative by any non – governmental body, the Scholarship Board Scribe also expressed surprise that his daughter also took part in the screening and interview as a resident and won the award.
“Let me say that I am personally very impressed for what I met here today. When I was invited, I wasn’t expecting this much beneficiaries. I sincerely think is an initiative that is worthy of been emulated by every division in the state”, Mr Lekki declared.
“I am not very sure have seen this kind of initiative as big as this by a non – governmental organization anywhere in the state and also, what have seen happening in most other divisions are scholarship and bursary awards for their indigenes alone. Only for those who are aborigines or indigenous to that local government or that division.
“I am elated to say that my daughter, I wouldn’t know how she got into the list, and who is from different local government – Lekkk LCDA, also made the list of the beneficiaries for today.
“In fact, she called me yesterday (last Friday) to tell me that she will be coming from school to attend this event but I did not tell her that I was also invited. She will be so surprise seeing me today here”.
He said that proponent of the initiative are concerned about total development of everyone in the division and not just about their own alone.
He charged beneficiaries to use the award as means of encouragement to make them sustain their academic excellence that qualified them for the awards.
“So, what that tells us is that, it’s a deliberate effort by the organizers of this event, the Ikorodu Division Peace Initiative/GTE, a body limited by guarantee, not only to promote educational advancement or development or support for its indigenes only, but for everyone that lives in their community”, Mr Lekki said.
“Now, while we have this, I think to whom much is giving, so much more is expected. Yes, you may not see N100, 000 as a big money, but I can tell you it is. For people to volunteer from their own money and savings, to bring something out and encourage, it means that you should be ready to give back; you should be ready to continue your academic excellence which is being promoted with this.
“Once you do that, invariably, they are encouraging you to make your 2.1 or first class and when you make it, the sky is the limited for you. It’s not even the limit, but your long path to success. That is if you continue on that path of excellence”.
He further charged them to be consistent in their academic pursuit if they are to be successful in life.
“As Aristotle said, “we are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act, but a habit”. It means that success is not an happenstance or something that happens once in a while, but you become an excellent person when you are always excellent. It means that when you maintain that part expected of you consistently, I can tell you that you will be consistent throughout your life”, he charged.
“What I am saying here is that, there are enough support for those who are ready or willing to put their selves on that pedestal and when you put yourself there, l can tell you that you will have a long way to go”.
He charged the IDPIL/GTE to partner with the Lagos State Scholarship Board in subsequent editions for a better outcome.
“I also want to inform you that the Lagos State Scholarships Board also offers scholarship and I would on this note again, want to invite the organisers of this event to please come and talk to us at the board. We have a lot that we can do together when we collaborate”, he said.
“This scholarship fund is good and excellent, but I can tell you for free, if you bring it to the board, we plan it together and we will work it together with what we do at the scholarship board. We will be able to take it to the next level and that is the benefit of joint planning”.
Also speaking, Mrs Folashade Adefisayo, Lagos Commissioner for Education, said that the state government is fully identifying with the initiative.
The Commissioner, who was represented by Mr Adesokan Saheed, while stating that IDPIL has started on a good footing, also charged other divisions in Lagos to emulate the initiative so that the state can continue to be the centre of excellence.
The Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, Prof. Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji Bello, also lauded the educational support initiative which is going to an annual scheme.
Mrs Bello, who was represented by Prof. Funsho Omobitan, Dean, Social Sciences Faculty, LASU, also assured Ikorodu of any support from the University that may be needed.
