More than 2000 Students/pupils across various public primary an secondary schools in Ibadan South East Constituency II were yesterday benefitted from the free distribution of set of chairs/desks, exercise books as well as sporting materials provided by the Lawmaker representing the said constituency, Hon Ademola Akeem Ige.
Speaking at the distribution ceremony held at Christ Church Primary school field Odinjo, Ibadan the Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology in Oyo State, Professor Joseph Adeniyi Olowofela described Hon. Ademola Ige as an exemplary lawmaker who is worthy to be emulating by others in terms of service to humanity and development of both human and community.
Others who attended the elaborate ceremony including the former Deputy Speaker of the house of Assembly, Hon. Babatunde Olaniyan who was also the chairman of the occasion, Hon. Olusegun Olaleye representing Ibadan North Constituency II and Hon. Joshua Oyebamiji representing Akinyele state constituency, PTA chairman in Oyo State, Alhaji Moshood Toki, Education Secretary in Ibadan South East Local Government, Mrs Adeniyi T.A., NUT chairman in Ibadan South East Local Government, Comrade Babatunde, representatives of various political parties among others.
The Commissioner who lauded Hon. Ige for his gesture towards improving education and sports in the State hinted that the motive behind government’s establishment of the school governing board has been achieved with the rate individuals are playing their roles in complementing the efforts ofvthe government to improve education.
Others who spoke at the occasion including the PTA chairman in Oyo State, Alh. Moshood Toki, the chairman of the occasion, Hon. Babatunde Olaniyan, the Education Secretary in Ibadan South East Local government, ANCORPPS, NUT, representatives of various political parties, students and others applauded Hon. Ige’ gesture and described him as lover of the masses and somebody who values education of the less privileged people in the society.
According to Hon. Olaniyan “Ademola Ige is somebody who knows much about his constituency. Instead of distributing unnecessary materials, he has distributed what he feels the students need and it is a very God thing. I want other legislators to emulate what he has done because if they do so, it is will go a long way in complementing the efforts of the state government.”
In his welcome address at the occasion, Hon. Ademola Ige said the gesture was part of his efforts to ensure that pupils in public schools have access to educational materials that would enhance their studies, stressing that the set of chairs and desks that he has provided would go a long way in solving several challenges facing these schools at the moment in terms of infrastructure.
According to him, “few months ago, I paid an unscheduled visit to some schools within the Ibadan South East Local Government area to ascertain the condition of infrastructure and learning environment. The condition I met the students was very disheartening as majority of them in most of the schools I visited sat on a bare floor as a result of lack of furniture to sit on to receive lesson while some don’t have writing materials like exercise books to write lesson. Some buildings in these schools have become dilapidated and were at the brink of collapse.”
Seeing these schools in this condition broke my heart and I quickly decided to embark upon provision of infrastructure within shortest possible time. This is just the beginning of lofty programmes I have under my education empowerment scheme for the youth.” Hon. Ige asserted.
Hon. Ige also used the occasion to appreciate Yejide Girls Grammar School basketball team that annually represents Oyo State and South West at the Nestle Milo basketball competition for their brilliant performances and for making his constituency proud since 1999, especially miss Modinat Alawusa who just came back from Mozambique where she represented the country in a basketball competition.
During the programme, the association of primary school teachers in Ibadan South East Local Government presented an award to Hon. Ademola Ige for always identifying and supporting the association.
Other sporting materials distributed to students including football, table tennis and trophies to boost sporting activities among the students.