This Day (Lagos)
Hammed Shittu
3 November 2009
Ilorin — The hope of orphans in Ejigbo Local Government Council Area of Osun State of access to quality education and acquire skills needed to contribute their quota to the socio economic growth of the area recently came alive with the donation of some educational materials by a socio cultural organisation based in the area known as Committee of Friends (COF).
The event, which took place at the Ejigbo Town hall, was well attended by the representatives of stakeholders and various primary and secondary schools in the area.
The materials included 1,000 copies of exercise books, 50 school bags, 400 biros, 200 pencils, 180 rulers, 100 erasers, 2 boxes of schools chalks, 12 Mathematical sets and 1,000 calendars for 2010.
The President, Mr. Amos Adejinle said the club was moved to donate the items because of its desire to bring hope to the less privileged; especially the orphans.
He said the club, which was established about 10 years ago, had been working hard to change the education status of the area and to rekindle the interest of its indigenes towards education.
As part of efforts to achieve this, he said the club organised and sponsored adult literacy classes and provided textbooks and exercise books to students of both primary and secondary schools in the local government between 1995 and 1996.
"Before this development, COF had been embarking on enlightenment campaigns across the length and breadth of the local government on the need to realise that education is the only key to the emancipation of the society and the youths of today are the leaders of tomorrow, hence there is need for them to have education so as to bring a new lease of life to the society."
Adejinle said club also paid monthly allowances for teachers to organise extra classes for students preparing for national examinations such as the ones conducted by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) and had also awarded scholarships to some indigent students from both junior and senior secondary schools in the area, this led to the educational development of the area.
He therefore called on government at all levels and other stakeholders to contribute to the growth of the education sector.
The Local Government Chairman, Mr. Samuel Adegboyega commended the group's contributions to the development of the area, especially in the education sector.
Adegboyega, who was represented by the Vice Chairman, Mr. Musiliu Bello described the gesture as a positive reference point in the socio economic growth of the council. He therefore called on other clubs in the area to support the government in its task of moving education forward in the country.
Responding on behalf of the orphans, Miss Bola Alabi thanked the club for rising to the course of their education, saying that the gesture would assist them to be more committed to their academic excellence.
She also called on the government and other philanthropists to continue to be more committed to the education of the less privileged so as to give them hope for the future.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2009 This Day. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
