The Chairman of Somolu Local Government, Lateef Ashimi, has reaffirmed his commitment to education through multiple initiatives designed to empower young people. These include the distribution of 500 free General Certificate of Education (GCE) forms, free summer lessons, ICT training under the Spark programme, and the Waste-to-Wealth scheme.
Alongside GCE support, the council is running free summer coaching for more than 1,000 pupils across two centres, offering academic reinforcement and discipline during the holiday break. Over 400 children are also enrolled in the Spark ICT programme, which equips them with critical digital skills. These efforts reflect Ashimi’s goal of preparing young people for a knowledge-driven economy while ensuring equitable access to quality learning. The administration has also promised better welfare packages for adult education instructors.
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The GCE support programme began on August 21, 2025, at the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Administrative Building, where students received free forms with relief and excitement. The final phase of the distribution concluded recently, ensuring transparency throughout the process. Beneficiaries were later gathered for a sensitisation session, where Ashimi urged them to remain focused. He stressed that their upcoming examinations, scheduled between October 24 and December 18, 2025, represent opportunities to excel.
The session featured the Vice Chairman, Taiwo Ojomu, Council Treasurer, Abayomi Odusanya, and the Chairman’s wife, Mrs. Shakirah Temitope Ashimi.
Mrs Ashimi reminded the pupils that education is not limited to classroom learning but serves as a lifelong tool for empowerment, social advancement, and economic growth. She encouraged them to embrace diligence, seize opportunities, and demonstrate excellence.