Kunle Adelabu & Joy Fasunnon (SIWES Student)
-Donate educational materials to pupils
-Pledges prizes for outstanding pupils
In his capacity of supporting the government efforts in the development of education and given back to his former primary school, Mr Balogun Abbey Oluwagbenga, a Councillorship aspirant for Ward .., Ikorodu Local Government has returned to Aga Primary School to donate educational materials to the pupils.
Balogun who wore the school uniform fully identified with the pupils who he distributed exercise books, biro and pencil to on the Assembly Ground, a gesture that he promised to sustain every resumption period as his ‘Back To School’ project.
He also pledged to institute a reward system for best three pupils from the Kindergarten class to primary six in form of prizes starting from the end of this session.
The young politician visited the school on Wednesday with his team, also encouraged the pupils to be serious with their education because the community is relying on them for tomorrow.
“It is about giving back to the community and supporting education This is one of our ways of ensuring that the future of Ikorodu is protected. Education is one of those things we use in measuring economic development, so in any way possible, if one can contribute it will make a lot of differences.
“This is my way of contributing by bringing books and other educational materials and interacting with the students and encouraging them so that they grow to be great men and contribute positively to development in Ikorodu
While commending the Lagos State Government’s efforts on education and intervention from others and charged for more community intervention.
“We brought 40 leaves of exercise books for the students. We also brought biro and pencils for the primary and the nursery school pupils.
“I commend the state government because a lot has gone into improving education in Lagos State, especially from what I am seeing at Aga primary school. It is commendable, but a lot still needs to be done and it is left to us to contribute our own quota
“The government cannot do it all alone. There is no economy that develops purely on the shoulders of the government. It has to be the government doing its part and people contributing their parts to it. The situation here is commendable, but more still needs to be done and we would look into what we can do to partner with the school”, he said.
While stating that education would open any door for the pupils, Balogun encouraged them to take their studies seriously adding that sky is their beginning if they face their studies and excel.
To further encourage the pupils to read very well, the aspirant announced to them on the assembly ground his plan to institute prize giving day in his former school for the best three pupils from the kindergarten class to Primary six.
e aspirant Speaking on the water system that the Aga community and the school charged him to revive, Balogun commended the Senator representing the Lagos East, Sen. Tokunbo Abiru for facilitating modern buildings for Aga Primary School, the water system that is needing attention and other facilities.
He said that a report would be forwarded to the Senator’s office after his engineers diagnosed the problem and followed up on fixing it.
“We are doing our part by bringing in engineers to look at after the community and school lodged complaints to us. It is a good intervention from Senator Abiru.
“We will look at it and do a report which will be forwarded to the Senators, because I am sure that he would have fixed it if he knows that there is a problem with the water system. We will do this and see what follows.
“We will do the work of the community by conveying ur discovery to the senator’s office and I am sure that in a short time, the problem with the water and the toilet will be fixed”, he said.
Mr Segun Mabunmi who represented the Education Secretary, LGEA Ikorodu Local Government, commended the aspirant for the gesture which he said is appreciated by the Education Secretary and the school, especially in this hard period.
He said that the educational materials presented to the pupils would add positively to their academic performances.
Prince Olamilekan Akanni who represented Chief Ibrahim Alade Olukotun, Baale of Aga, also speaking at the Assembly Ground, welcome the teaches and pupils back to school.
He described Balogun’s gesture of coming back to his former primary school as going back to the its foundation to contribute it development and that of the community generally.
The Assistant Head Teacher, Aga Primary School, Lawal Rahmot Adenike, expressing the school’s gratitude said that the gesture is coming at a good time.
She said that the exercise books and other items donated will assist the pupils in their learning as some of them resumed back to school without books.
“Some of you here resumed on Monday without learning materials to write. I can remember some pupils that were brought to my office did not even have a single note book in their bags.
“This they are doing today will provide you with learning materials. They are here to encourage you.
“They want you to be doctors ,lawyers ,accoutants and be great person in future. That is why they brought these items for us.
“They want you to know that education is important and you yourself you are important that is why they brought all these.
“If we should consider the value of all these things that they have brought, it is a very big money”, she said.
The assistant head teacher told the pupils that the way of reciprocating the gesture is for them to read very well.
“We want you too to reciprocate what they are doing for you by reading very well: study very well, so that they will be encourage to come back as they have promised to do at the end of the session”, she added.
She thanked the donor and his team and prayed for them.
Miss Basirat Wasiu and Master Mustapha Kariola both in Primary 6, appreciated the donor on behalf of other pupils for his gesture and offered him prayers.
