Her passion for improved learning in children and youths prompted her to create an alternative platform for education in a dynamic and exciting learning environment. Unlike other pet projects being run by other governors’ wives that cease to exist at the end of their tenure, Leadership Empowerment And Resource Network (LEARN) has been sustained over the years. In this interview with Omolara Akintoye, wife of former Lagos State governor, Dame Abimbola Fashola, speaks on why LEARN was established, its success stories, why parents especially mothers need to live up to their responsibilities, among others.
HY did you establish L.E.A.R.N?
LEARN was established out of my passion to build a strong, resilient character in children for them to grow and become dependable future leaders of the country.
I love children and I like to be in their midst; I try to understand what goes on in their minds and channel their energies into positive thinking. It was established in 2007 as an NGO when I was the first lady of Lagos State. When it was established, I had the vision to sustain it. We organised a whole lot of programmes such as summer school programmes where the children learnt skills as well as network. We had the parenting seminars, having found out that so many children cannot open up to their parents; so it’s an avenue whereby counsellors are on ground to talk to them about their individual problems. And over time, because of the confidentiality involved, majority of them have opened up and talked about the problems they are facing and so many of them have been coming to us. Over the years, L.E.A.R.N has been able to solve their problems as much as we can. As I speak, L.E.A.R.N now bring the parents and children together. Other programmes include Training of Trainers, Employability Training for the summer school programme. We try as much as possible to teach them a skill which most times they fall back on to earn a living when the white collar job is not forthcoming. Such opportunities are always open to everyone; selecting is based on first come first served basis.
In the past 12 years, I have been privileged to lead the team at L.E.A.R.N. During this period, we have successfully implemented several programmes and projects aimed at educating, enlightening, and empowering young people. The L.E.A.R.N project has been quite fulfilling for me and others because the feedback we have received from the young people we work with, as well as from our partners, indicate that we have done reasonably well in meeting the objectives set out at the beginning. That suggests to me that there is more work to be done as we do not intend to rest on our oars or be carried away by our little successes. We are determined to sustain the momentum of existing programmes and also break new grounds. We are committed to doing more to reach more young people and have greater impact on their lives.
Children engage in too much entertainment activities, and, as such, need to be trained to strike a balance between entertainment and education so as to become healthy and stable individuals in future.
I am not saying that entertainment is bad but it is not everybody that will become a superstar be it in music, sport or what have you.
A lot of them will grow up to be doctors, lawyers and accountants and for this to become a reality, the training has to start from now; that is where we come in. I want to appeal to you to partner with us so that youth engagement and empowerment can continue to be in the front burner in public schools. Please, review the various programmes that we organise and do let me know how you could be part of any of them. Together, we can work together to do much more.
Were there challenges encountered when you established L.E.A.R.N?
Yes there are challenges and the major one is funding. We hardly get sponsors, so I have to wait till I’m able to raise money personally, because the moment people hear the name L.E.A.R.N, they believe I have the wealth of the country, which I don’t have. But I have some individuals who believe in what I’m doing and they sponsor our programmes.
How was your growing up like?
I was born on April 6, 1965 into the Adeojo family of Ibadan, Oyo State. My father (now late), Chief Adenusi Adeojo, was the first Nigerian Director at Texaco, Nigeria, and my mother, an Urhobo woman, used to work with NITEL. She is now retired.
I started my formal education at K. Kotun Memorial Nursery and Primary School, Surulere, Lagos, from where I proceeded to Marywood Girls Grammar School, also in Surulere. Thereafter, I went to Yejide Girls High School, Ibadan, where I completed my secondary schooling.
In pursuit of my dream of becoming a professional secretary, I enrolled at the Lagoon Secretarial College, Adisa-Bashua, Surulere, Lagos. I later obtained an advanced computer certificate from the Computer Department of the University of Lagos.
I had a brief stint as a trainee journalist with the Daily Sketch before joining the British Council in 1987. Whilst in the employment of the British Council, I served in various capacities: Front-of House Operations, Technical Co-operation and Training, Project and Overseas Development Support, Arts and Gender Relations and Examinations Officer/IELTS Administrator responsible for managing various examinations on behalf of several U.K institutions and boards for over 10,000 candidates yearly before resigning my appointment in 2006.
Aside this, I also attended various training programmes and courses both locally and overseas on customer relations, IT skills, managing people and effectiveness in the work place.
As the First Lady of Lagos State, I was the Chairman of COWLSO, a community-based organisation that was established by the wife of the first military governor of Lagos State, Mrs Obafunmilayo Johnson, and resuscitated in 2000. COWLSO is committed to complementing the efforts of the state government in improving the socio-economic conditions of the people of Lagos State.
What has kept L.E.A.R.N going strong even many years after you are no longer a governor’s wife?
I guess L.E.A.R.N is standing today because it’s something I always had in mind to do. I worked in various departments while I was working in the British Council but I ended up with the young ones, which was coordinating exams for young ones: the GCE, A level, Cambridge etc. I had to interact with them and I knew there was something missing in these children, so whenever I’m with them I’m comfortable with them. I’m attracted to them just to help them find out what really is the problem; let’s engage, let’s talk about it and I assure them of confidentiality. I also warn parents not to hide things from their children, open up to them. If you are struggling to pay their school fees, let them know, so that they will know that it is not all rosy at home. L.E.A.R.N has been standing because of my passion for young ones and I also have dedicated people who are passionate about their children as well. In the last few years, I had officers who will take some children in when they have problems at home, when they are being abused just to help them and ensure that all goes well. Any programme that has to do with education, we need to encourage young ones and give them the best. The success stories are that when I see the children who attended our programmes, especially the summer school where they usually learn various skills and they walk up to me to tell me that what they learnt and when they are working with such skills and making money from it.
The rate at which young ones kill themselves over little challenges is alarming, what is the missing link?
Parental care is missing, guidance from adults is missing, we need to go back to the basics. We need to be there for these children. I could remember when I was growing up, it’s not just your parents that would bring you up, and we had other adults around that would always check on us, counsel us and correct us whenever we were going astray. This is lacking today. Seriously, I will blame parents for not rising up to their responsibilities; we have not brought up these children the way we adults were brought up. I try as much as possible to bring up children that I raise in my home, biological or otherwise, the right way. Yes, they give me name that I’m old school. I don’t mind, at least it is that old generation has made me who I’m today, and I want you to be better than me and it’s that old generation method that I use for them. So we must go back to the basics. If good values are not inculcated in children, especially through good motherly care, it will in turn continue to have a negative influence on the Nigerian society. Women should know that their first job and call is the home front, especially those going into politics. They must be ready to be themselves and not allow the glamour of office to take them away from their responsibility at home, children and husband. Be yourself, say it the way it is; not everybody will like you. But be truthful, know your limitations and love God.
While my husband was the governor of Lagos State, no matter how busy his schedule was, I always ensured that I had personal chat with him before we retired to our room.
I was particular about training my children as wards of the family and never allowed them to be raised up as children of a state governor.
Women must know their desires in life and channel their energy on good things; they must manage their home effectively irrespective of the nature of their job.
Advice to the present government?
Government should show empathy, have a listening ear and do the bit they can, and let them know if they are unable to do anything and reason why they can’t. Government has to be transparent.
