Kunle Adelabu
-Former minister expresses dismay over pupils’ poor computer knowledge
Four pupils in Igbogbo in Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Ikorodu Division area of Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, were, on Thursday, presented scholarship awards by Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, a chieftain of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Lagos State, and former Minister for Works.
The awards, according to the report gathered, would cover the secondary education of the beneficiaries admitted into Oriwu College Model College, Ikorodu. The gesture is part of the sponsor’s quest in ensuring that more pupils in Ikorodu Division, get admission into model colleges.
The four lucky students were picked out of the 40 students that were sponsored by Sen. Ogunlewe through the Dr Akinola Ogunlewe STEAM Education Centre, Located at the Akin Ogunlewe Crescent, Igbogbo, after passing their Common Entrance Examination in model colleges, with the sum of N35, 000 each presented to the beneficiaries and their parents as payment for their first term.
Alhaji Oduntan Kudus, Director, Dr. Akinola Ogunlewe STEAM Education Centre, said that the centre called for entry for the scholarship examination in March this year, with four pupils each from 10 public primary schools in Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, participating in the Scholarship examination.
“On march 2023, the management of Dr. Akinola Ogunlewe STEAM Education (AOSTEM) Centre, announced a scholarship examination for all public primary schools in Igbogbo Baiyeku LCDA. Four pupils each from Ten public primary schools across the LCDA, totalling 40, came for the test”, he said.
“After the examination, only five qualified for the scholarship. They were all registered for the Lagos State Common Entrance Examinations into model colleges. Eventually, four out of the five pupils got admission into Oriwu Junior Model College, Ikorodu.
“Today, we are celebrating them. The centre is ready to sponsor them till they finish their secondary school, depending on their academic performances. They are the ambassador of the centre and the community at large”, Alhaji Oduntan said.
Speaking further on the activities at the AOSTEM, he said:
At AOSTEM Centre, we’ve done many programmes and intended to do more such as free Computer Training, free JAMB and SSCE tutorial and scholarships. In September this year, we graduated the first set of our computer appreciation trainees and currently, we have 30 students undergoing training in coding and programming”, he said.
“All thanks to the sponsor of this great project, Sen. Adeseye Ogunlewe”.
Mrs Arowolo Saheedat, mother of one of the beneficiaries, thanked the centre for the scholarship, especially Senator Ogunlewe for sponsoring the scholarship.
“I am happy that my daughter is among those that were awarded the scholarship. I sincerely thank the centre, especially our father (Senator Ogunlewe) for this gesture”, she said.
She prayed for the sponsor and for continuous existence of the centre.
Another parent, Mr Awolesi Olatunji, welcomed initiative, and said that it would go a long way in helping him fulfil his dream for his daughter.
“It was strange to me when I received a call from someone stating that my attention is needed at the centre. So, I came and I was informed about the examination and since then, I have kept faith with the centre and monitor my daughter’s attendance”, he said.
“The scholarship is a very good intervention, because I cannot do any job at 83, and I have no pension. I thank Ogunlewe for this scholarship because it will go a long way in ensuring that my daughter receives good education”.
He charged beneficiaries to face their studies and make excellence as a way of appreciating the donor.
Miss Arowolo Bilikis, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, also thanked Sen. Ogunlewe and prayed for him and the centre.
“On behalf of my colleagues, l thank Sen. Ogunlewe for giving us this scholarship, and I pray he will continue to prosper”, she said.
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Meanwhile Sen. Ogunlewe has expressed his disappointment over the poor level of computer education in Ikorodu primary schools, stating that the situation is responsible for the mass failure in Computer Based Examinations.
He charged local councils and privileged individuals to intervene in the area of making ICT Centres and trainings available to pupils across the six councils in Ikorodu Division.
“This is very sad and disappointing. We were ready to sponsor as many pupils as possible into the model colleges in Ikorodu, because our own children are not benefitting from it, unfortunately, they were unable to pass the CBT examinations because they don’t have good knowledge of computer.
“It is very disappointing that only five passed and four admitted out of the 40 that we sponsored for exmainations into our model colleges”, Sen. Ogunlewe said.
“How can we as a community failed in this regard? We must wake up and ensure that we make computer available and also train our children in computer literacy.
“Our local government should ensure that we have functional ICT centres in their schools or one central location in their councls. I thank Hon. Babajimi Benson for his intervention in providing three ICT Centres. I want to charge other private individuals to also intervene so that we can change the trend”, he charged.
