Kunle Adelabu & Mariam Akinloye
-Education stakeholders, parents commend gesture
Eleven brilliant but indigent pupils from six primary schools across the Ikorodu division, have benefitted from the 2023 edition of the Olori Kudirat Abosede Shotobi Scholarship program for Basic school pupils.
The scholarship awards, which amounted to 14million naira, were presented at the 8th edition of the initiative held at the Ayangbure main palace hall in Ikorodu, on Saturday, December 23, 2023.
Six of the scholarship beneficiaries emerged from the screening exercise conducted for pupils in public primary schools by the lkorodu Local Government Education Authority (LGEA), while the other five emerged from the Oba Shotobi’s spelling bee competition which was held recently.
Also at the event, a whopping sum of 12million naira cheque out of the total sum of the scholarship, was presented to the winner of the Oba Shotobi’s spelling bee competition, as scholarship.
Aside the scholarship award, His Royal Majesty, (Engr.) Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, his wife and initiator of the educational support initiative, Olori Kudirat Abosede Shotobi, also gave the beneficiaries additional cash, school bags and educational items.
The scholarship scheme was initiated by Olori Shotobi as part of her annual Children Christmas party designed to support brilliant kids from the less privileged homes as her own way of expressing her love for education and giving back to the needy in Ikorodu Division.
The six beneficiaries – Jacott Idara, Ayangbure Primary School, Ikorodu, Animashaun Khadijah, Estate Primary School, Ikorodu, Olukotun Rebecca, Etunrenren Primary School, Ikorodu, Idris Alimah, Temidire Primary School, Ikorodu, Abraham Princess, Model Nursery and Primary School, Ikorodu and Bashir Adam, Ijomu Muslim Primary School, Ikorodu, were in attendance at the event alongside their parents and teachers.
Also at the palace for the presentation were Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, the Asipa of Ikorodu and the Chief Learning Officer, Kith & Kin Educational Schools, Mr Rotimi Erogbogbo, Chairman, Ikorodu – Oga Development, Alhaji Afolabi Amusa, Education Secretary, Local Government Education Authority (LGEA), Ikorodu and Mr Dayo Philip, the founder/initiator, Oba Shotobi Spelling Bees, as well as traditional chiefs and Baales among others.
In her royal speech, Olori Shotobi thanked God for the opportunity to present the awards to this year’s beneficiaries and also lauded her husband for the support she has been receiving since the commencement of the scholarship programme eight years ago.
The royal mother also commended teachers, other educational stakeholders, corporate bodies, individuals, family members and friends who were also supportive of the initiative through monetary and gift items.
She said that the scholarship awards are usually giving during the yuletide season to express her love and support to children and families that are in need.
“Christmas is a season of sharing and re-uniting with families and friends to wine, dine and exchange gifts. It is a very special season of love and an opportunity for us to reach out to the less privileged, give alms to the poor and make people around us happy”, Olori Shotobi said.
“It is a season for us to touch lives and affect our society in a positive way, we are all gathered here to celebrate the birthday of our saviour, Jesus Christ
“Similarly, the celebration of Christmas is dedicated to our children, the leaders of tomorrow. We need to cheer them up and make it a fun filled season, fill their hearts with joy and happiness, especially those that make us proud in their academic”, the royal mother charged.
While charging parents to be responsible and responsive to their children, Olori Shotobi also enjoined the children to be good and obedient at all time
“I seize this opportunity to advice parents to take good care of their children, monitor their activities and watch who they relate with. Don’t let us be too carried away with the joy of this festive period and in the future, we should all be observant and be security conscious at all times”, she said.
“As usual, we are here to give back, encourage our children and share gifts . I will implore all the students to always be obedient, loyal and be truthful at all times, everyone will surely remember today as a memorable day with the kabeyesi and I”.
Olori Shotobi also charged beneficiaries and other students in Ikorodu, to be serious with their education which she said is the only way for them to be great individuals in future.
An educationist and community leader, Asipa Kalio Olatunji Olusanya, in his remarks, commended the royal family for the initiative which he said will go a long way in supporting many families in giving good education to their children.
Asipa Kaoli, who also gives scholarship to indigent students, charged pupils to see education as vehicle that will take them out of nothing to greater heights.
“Education is the bedrock of everything. To get out of poverty is education; to overcome ignorance, disease and poverty is education. So, education is the foundation; the basis and the empowerment you can give a child”, he said.
“A child of Mr Nobody today, will be a child of Mr Somebody and great person tomorrow, through sound education.
“So, what Olori started and which is being supported by the Kabeyesi, is to be rallied round and try to build and empower the children of the most vulnerable in the society and that is the least we can do to assist because some of these children come with innate talents, and somebody have to invest in that talent in other to come out for the benefit of the nation as a whole’, Asipa Kaoli said.
“To that extent, I am happy to be part of it; to support children’s education, and to give back. Some people invested in us; some people discovered us when we were young and when we were nobody at all”, he recalled.
The Chief Learning Officer, Kith & Kin Educational Schools, also charged beneficiaries and other students to encourage Olori to do more by giving their best and attain excellent results.
IKODASS Chairman, Mr Rotimi Erogbogbo, in his own remarks, said that he is supportive of the initiative by Olori Shotobi, because it is the best way of finding solutions to so many problems bedeviling the country.
He said that there is a need to invest more in children in the grassroots and nurture them to greatness if the country is to attain its greatness.
Erogbogbo, who commended the quality of teachers and facilities in public schools, also emphasized that scholarship and other forms of educational support and guide for the grassroots children is the best way to achieve national transformation.
Beneficiaries and their parents that spoke with THE IMPACT, were full of appreciation to the royal family for the scholarship and other supports.
