In a bid to support indigent students in pursuit of their education, a senator representing Ondo Central Senatorial District, Adeniyi Adegbomire, has distributed multimillion-naira teaching and learning materials to primary and secondary school students and teachers in the state.
While distributing the educational materials at St. James’ Mega Primary School, Irowo, Akure, the Ondo state capital, Sen Adegbomire said the initiative, tagged ‘Back to School,’ was part of efforts to encourage indigent pupils and students in their academic pursuit amid the prevailing economic challenges.
“Education is the bedrock of the development of any society. Particularly in this century, there is nothing you can achieve without being educated. But there are a lot of people who would like to be educated but don’t have the tools to learn properly.
“So, what we have done here today is to provide the tools from primary schools, secondary schools, and universities.
“This is just the beginning; we are going to start the rehabilitation of two primary schools in Akure South, and we are also going to turn Oyemekun Grammar into a world-class secondary school,” said Adegbomire.
Speaking further, he said, “The construction and the reconstruction will start in another two weeks. We are trying to provide a proper environment for students to learn.
“After the students and the children, we will move to the market, women. The children are our future, and due to the current financial challenges, all the items will be evenly distributed to all beneficiaries.
“Ten thousand notebooks will be given to each local government. Ondo State has the highest number of primary schools in Nigeria, and you can imagine the task before us.”
In his remarks, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who was represented at the event by a director in the Ministry of Education, Mr Francis Omoluwa, commended the senator for the gesture, stating that the initiative would go a long way in alleviating the financial burden on parents.
Aiyedatiwa said: “This initiative to provide educational items is more than just a donation; it’s a commitment to the educational development of our youths in the central senatorial district.
“Education is about developing critical thinking; hence, the donation will in no small measure assist the pupils and students in their studies.
“These tools are designed to enhance our student’s learning experience, bridge the digital divide, and foster a conducive environment for academic excellence.
“Laptops will unlock digital learning opportunities, notebooks will record your brilliant ideas, projectors will visualise your creativity, magnetic boards will facilitate interactive learning, and public address systems will amplify your voices.”
The state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Ade Adetimehin, said the senator was committed to bringing dividends of democracy to his constituents, stressing that “this is the beginning for the senator, and he will do more.”
“Senator Adegbomire has not only demonstrated his commitment to education but has also set a precedent for future investments in the academic sector. This is what true leadership looks like, providing opportunities for our students to thrive,” Adetimehin stressed.
Parts of the the materials donated by the senator were 60,000 notebooks to students in six local government areas of the senatorial district with 10,000 books gifted to students in each LGA.
Others include laptops, public address systems, projectors, magnetic boards, and school bags, among others.
the items donated included, laptops, public address systems, projectors, magnetic boards, and school bags, among others.