For a septuagenarian APC chieftain, Alhaji Abiodun Sunmola shows no sign of slowing down soon. He has found a past time in developing the future generation by investing in their education. To achieve greater mileage, he is calling on people of great means to support worthy causes, writes KOFOWOROLA BELO-OSAGIE
A philanthropist and Interim Deputy State Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Abiodun Sunmola, has a mission dear to his heart: to distribute two million exercise books to primary school pupils in Lagos State.
This mission is part of a bigger intervention programme that encompasses creating a conducive environment for teaching and learning in schools in his Kosofe Local Government constituency and beyond; providing financial support to those in need to start businesses, and supporting grassroots politicians, among others.
However, education has a special place in his heart, given his antecedents in supporting schools, teachers and pupils. In the past, he has constructed and rehabilitated classrooms, donated school furniture, uniforms and school sandals, distributed writing materials and mid-day meals, and given gifts to retiring teachers.
Among all these, the school feeding programme stands out. In Gbagada area, Araromi Primary School has been enjoying the initiative for five years now. Mrs Abosede Ottun, Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola on Primary Education, said every school day, pupils of the school are fed nutritious meals at the unit cost of N25.00 per plate. To date, she said the project has gulped over N20 million, and has been extended to three other schools where pupils are given biscuits and water daily.
Mrs Ottun, who once served as Head Teacher of Araromi Primary School, testifies to the retention effect of the mid-day meals. Not only did enrolment more than tripled from 300 to 1,000, the meals helped to check truancy and made the pupils more attentive in class.
Since the launch of the two million exercise books project on January 24, Pa Sunmola has been moving round the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas of the state to share the books, five per pupil, in addition to pencils and rulers.
At the distribution of the writing materials to schools in Oke-Odo, Alimosho Local Government Area, last week, the septuagenarian revealed the reason for his passion to help the less privileged get quality education and move up the social ladder.
Sunmola also said the affluent in the society must complement government’s efforts by being more generous with their wealth. He flayed the wanton waste of wealth by many rich people on flashy cars and other worldly pleasures which he said would ultimately come to nought.
He said: “If we all spare some of our resources towards solving problems in our society, the system will be better and there will be improvement in the quality of life. Some of these children we ignore, by not providing opportunities for them to have good education, often turn out to be drop outs to the detriment of the society.
”I know a lot of rich people in this country that waste money. If a man sits down and counts 10 Jeeps in his garage, and each one costs N10 million, you know that is a lot of money that is being wasted. I want you to know that it is good to do good. Take care of your children and those of others,” he said.
Making a case for support to the government, Sunmola said the problems of the society are overwhelming and herculean for the government to adequately address. He said poverty undermines government’s intervention and urged people to give to worthy causes.
Explaining the motive behind the exercise books project, Sunmola said even after providing structures, furniture and textbooks, pupils cannot learn if they do not take notes. He recalled his experience in a school he visited, where a teacher taught pupils who wrote no notes. When he asked the teacher, she told him: “What can I do? They are meant to bring exercise books from home and biros and pencils. But they did not, I have done my part; I have taught them.”
The APC chieftain said with the five books distributed to the pupils, they would have a start in solidifying their education. He urged other well meaning Nigerians to join in the campaign to ensure each pupil has 12 notebooks – which is said is the ideal number they need for school.
“We have given them five exercise books; they are supposed to use 12. If people can contribute books, it will be good,” he said.
In their speeches, the Commissioner for Information, Mr Lateef Ibirogba; Education Secretary, Alimosho Local Education Authority, Mr Isaac Omoregie; Chairman, Agbado Oke-Odo LCDA, Mr Augustine Adeoye Arogundade, and Mrs Ottun all lauded Sunmola’s contribution to education and other areas.
