- As more than 70 primary and secondary beneficiaries receive cash, learning materials
Parents and students who benefited from the full scholarship package offered by the Adewumi Adeyemi Foundation under the “Irekandu Back to School Project” have praised and prayed for the facilitator, Adewumi Adeyemi, a lawmaker who represents the Obokun State Constituency.
Recall that on Thursday, the lawmaker gave out writing materials and learning aids such as backpacks, textbooks, exercise books, cash among others to more than 70 primary and secondary kids who were recipients of full scholarships provided by the foundation in Ibokun, a part of the Obokun State Constituency.
Speaking at the ceremony, Hon. Adewumi Adeyemi, better known as Irekandu, revealed that the scholarship program for the Irekandu Back to School Project began with 21 out-of-school children and eventually grew to 72 after adding another 51 pupils.
The lawmaker also expressed his serious concern about the rising number of youngsters who are not in school and how the dire state of the economy has made things worse when speaking to beneficiaries, parents, and visitors.
The 39-year-old lawmaker went on to say that while canvassing for votes, he was quite dissatisfied with the number of unenrolled kids his team managed to gather.
Irekandu described how he met Samuel while sitting with Okada riders where he had come to sell local or handcrafted soaps. Samuel was a young lad who had entirely lost hope in education.
“I became intrigued by him. His age and the things he needed to do to survive scared me. In addition to purchasing everything he was selling as a gift for the others in attendance, I asked him where he went to school and learned that he had quit. I instantly re-enrolled him. We then launched our Back to School Project.
As a lawmaker, I receive no constituency allowance but I’m purposely driven by service. But I promised to support my constituents, particularly with regard to issues involving education. We began with 21 kids and now we have removed 71 kids from the streets, and we’ll have more. Every child in Nigeria has a right to an education. Irekandu continued, “And we are prepared to do more.
Wumi Omotosho, a 43-year-old lady who spoke at the event, revealed that she and her husband had been exploring apprenticeship for their son, who also happens to be a scholarship recipient for secondary school.
We as a family are unable to feed our children two square meals a day, but we will still be required to purchase textbooks, exercise books, and school supplies. We just cannot afford these things if we are unable to eat adequately. We have been considering how to tell our first child that he must miss school so that his siblings can attend, says Wumni.
Wumni, a small trader who also has a son in the scholarship program, said she was overjoyed to learn that her son was one of the recipients since it would be a huge relief for the family, especially her husband.
Another lady, simply known as Dupe, who makes a living by grinding pepper, admitted to lying to her daughter about the state of her already torn schoolbag to this media.
“Irekandu is truly a gift from God.” Due to finances, the prospect of my kids returning to school had been on my thoughts for the past few weeks. While her father struggles to pay tuition, I was considering getting an LAPO to purchase a school bag and exercise books. However, when I learned that my daughter was a beneficiary of the scholarship program, I was overjoyed.
While praising the scholarship program, the 37-year-old woman described it as an urgent rescue mission for the underprivileged and destitute, and she questioned whether the initiative’s creator was aware of the great burden he had placed on parents’ shoulders.
A primary six student named Omotosho Sunday expressed his gratitude and appreciation to Hon. Adewumi Adeyemi. He said that he was grateful to be one of the recipients since the writing materials he received will greatly aid his academic progress.
There is no library at our school and the textbooks are quite pricey. Most of the time, I complete my schoolwork at my friend’s house. I appreciate being able to complete my homework at home. He stated that God would keep blessing Irekandu.
Another youngster who went by the name Ola Christiannah told the reporter that she was relieved to learn she had been chosen since she was in desperate need of a school bag, exercise materials, and textbooks.
While expressing her gratitude and admiration for Hon. Adewumi Adeyemi, Kemi added that she felt really fortunate and that she was eager to get back to her schoolwork.
The project is a way to positively impact the lives of the youngsters, according to Wale Egbedun, Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, who was speaking to visitors and recipients.
Egbedun applauded the legislator and urged others to imitate this excellent act.
This project is fairly expensive, thus it makes me happy that the facilitator did not take the cost into account when organizing and carrying out the project.
This sends the message loud and clear that education comes with responsibility. He said that we must have a sincere desire to learn.