I grew up in the heart of Mushin. Just like other kids in the densely populated neighbourhood, I saw and tasted deprivations. My parents, like some parents here, were poor but they strove to give me qualitative education. That was my saving grace. God used the formal education training to turn-around my story of woes.”
These were the words of the Executive Secretary, Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Rasaq Ajala at the presentation of free Joint Admission and Matriculations Board (JAMB) forms to indigent students yesterday.
The forms were presented to those who had passed among the 250 students he gave free General Certificate of Education (GCE) forms last August.
The gesture, Ajala said, was because of what education did in his life, adding: “I have always maintained that education remains the most potent weapon to liberate people from the shackles of poverty. The truth is that the massive innovative inventions, technological advancement and breakthroughs in various specialisations of science have heralded new opportunities, wealth to those who can discern and had received functional and globally competitive education. So, as a visionary leader who was salvaged from the clutches of poverty through education, I want to ensure that the circumstances of birth of any child do not inhibit his advancement in life. We all owe it a duty to train the younger generation and position them in better stead to harness great gains of this present age.”
Ajala urged the beneficiaries to always remember their parents’ labour and to make the best of the opportunity they had been given.
“I charge the beneficiaries of this free JAMB forms scheme to make most of this opportunity. They should remember the toil and labour of their parents who are mostly petty traders, subsistence artisans and retirees and study well to garner enough score to gain admission into their institutions of choice”, he said.
He promised that those who passed their JAMB examination would receive financial assistance from the council throughout their stay in the tertiary institution.
Speaking with The Nation, one of the beneficiaries, 16-year-old Sunday Lawal who had six Credits and two Distinctions in his GCE examination appreciated the council chief’s gesture.
He said: “My father is an auto mechanic while my mother is a petty trader. If not for this gesture from Hon. Ajala, I may not have had the opportunity to write my GCE. I may have joined other youths engaging in public disturbance to eke out a living. I thank him for giving me the opportunity to further my academic career. I also hope to do something like this in future.”