Kunle Adelabu
Following their birthday celebrations about two weeks ago, the Odumbo twins – Alhaji Taiwo and Kehinde Odumbo, have donated textbooks worth N1million to schools in Ikorodu, to improve libraries in various secondary and primary schools.
While books worth of N500, 000 were donated to the Ikorodu Grammar School, Oke Ota – Ona, the school attended by Alhaji Taiwo Odumbo who is the Principal, Lagos State University International School, Ojo, and De Young Group of Schools, Ikorodu, where he was Principal for about 10 years before his new engagement.
Another set of the books worth N500, 000 were also donated to the Ikorodu – Oga Development Association (IKODASS), for distribution to schools in line with the group’s book drive campaign.
Some of the textbooks donated were copies of New Further Mathematics, Data Processing, Practical Physics, History of Nigeria, Calculation in Chemistry, Computer Studies, Agricultural Science, Business Studies and English Language among others.
Alhaji Odumbo, presenting the books to the Chairman, IKODASS, Asiwaju Rotimi Erogbogbo, said that it is part of their plans to give back to the society and also support the IKODASS book drive initiative.
“What we are doing here today is a product of two factors – One is that I have already had it in plan and secondly, is a reflection. When I was planning (the birthday), one of the things that came to my mind was we should also have a platform through which we can give back to the community and society that nurtured us to enjoy where we are today.
“It is not easy to be 50 anyways. I already had in mind I’m going to do something to schools through IKODASS.
“I have been to two other places – Ikorodu Senior Grammar School, and, of course, it is the secondary school where I finished in 1992. I have also been to the Young Comprehensive College, the school that I served for ten years before moving to Lagos State University as the Principal of its International School.
“What we are seeing here today is just to contribute in our little way – me and my twin brother. This is a way for the two of us to contribute in our little way to the development of education in Ikorodu Division.
“We ensured that the proceeds from the birthday celebration were geared towards this and of course, just like I have said, it is to contribute our own quota and also to support the IKODASS’ Book Drive lnitiative, because of the kind of dynamism that we are building into IKODASS.
“So, on behalf of my twin brother, we are dedicating these books to the memories of our parents as our support to educational development in Ikorodu.
“We are donating them to mark our 50th birthday and as our little quota to Ikorodu as a division and of course, in lines with the educational advancement and upliftment”, he said.
While accepting the books, IKODASS Chairman, Mr Rotimi Erogbogbo, thanked Alhaji Odumbo whom he always refers to as “my own brother”, and commended the initiative of the twins as a great support for the association’s educational development drive.
“If you notice, our main project in the last four years of my administration in Ikorodu -Oga Association, is education. We are passionate about education and that is why today, we have been able to gather people like you who have interest, to contribute to education through granting annual scholarship,
“So far, we have been able to give over 150 people scholarship which has never happened in the annal of IKODASS history.
“It was people like you with conscience that are coming up to donate their finances and I remember when I called for book drive, that we wanted to ensure that we put books into our libraries, because we went round the schools and we discover that there are no books in the libraries.
“We found out that most of the books we have in the libraries are no longer useful; they are outdated, particularly when Lagos State has its system and practice where a particular book can be used for three years, then they replace it.
“Unfortunately, those books are not being replaced, so, we went for book drive and try to see that we equip our libraries and where necessary, we want to also build furniture for some of these libraries. We want to thank you for responding to our calls just like Otunba Olukoga and Oba Dare Oshikoya, our PRO, also responded.
Erogbgbo assured that IKODASS will continue to embark on educational initiatives that would put necessary books in the public schools’ libraries and also support students, especially brilliant indigent ones, with the opportunity to study through scholarships.
While also emphasizing the need to invest in the young ones and prepare them for the future, Erogbogbo assured Odumbo brothers and family that the books donated will be distributed to achieve the aim they are intended for.
“We have been to some of the schools since we started the book drive. I will assure that we would do the distribution in a manner that you will appreciate it.
“I will also ensure that the books are stamped with your names on strategic pages before the distribution, so that when the children are reading them, they will know that they came from Taiwo and Kehinde Odumbo”, Erogbogbo said.
At the presentation were Alhaja Monsurat Odumbo, wife of Alhaji Taiwo Odumbo, Alhaja Fatimat Odumbo – Bello, donors’ sister who represented Mr Kehinde Odumbo.
