Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary Education District I, Dr YInka Ayandele has lauded the free weekend classes initiative of UAC of Nigeria Plc for impacting positively on pupils of the district academically and socially.
Dr Ayandele expressed her gratitude for the scheme at the closing ceremony of the six-week programme which is implemented under the UAC Goodness League corporate social responsibility (CSR) platform of the firm.
During the classes, about 350 SS3 pupils attending secondary schools in Agege, Alimosho and Ifako-Ijaiye zones of District I were taught Biology, Economics, Mathematics, English, Chemistry, Physics, Accounts, Government as well as taken through Guidance and Counselling sessions by members of staff of UACN who volunteered to teach in the programme.
Dr Ayandele told top executives of the firm, volunteers, teachers and pupils gathered at the Government College Agege school hall for the closing ceremony that the district produced one the best results in the state as a result of last year’s edition of the programme. She added that the workers’ interactions with the teenagers, many of whom were from poor and uninspiring backgrounds, helped to ignite in them the success mentality.
She particularly singled out Oyewole Senior Secondary School, Agege as one which witnessed significant change because of the programme.
“Our interactions with you last year yielded good results. Let me single out Oyewole Senior Secondary School. Over the years this school was known for negativity. But I can make bold to say because of your interaction with the children normalcy has been brought back. For the first time in the history of the school, it had the best result, 7As in our district. In the history of any education district, this district recoded 232 students who got admission directly to the university,” she said.
In his remarks, Mr Larry Ettah, UACN Group Managing Director, praised workers of the firm who form the volunteer corps for mentoring the pupils.
“The social impact, that thing you did for them will not be forgotten. By volunteering your time you have impacted these children and become for them role models.
“Our managers do this pro bono. That is the investment for us. It shows the possibility of collaboration between the private and public sector,” he said.
On his part, the Executive Director Corporate Services, UACN, Mr Joe Dada the free weekend classes, now in its 10th years of operation, had impacted over 3,000 pupils in Lagos State.
“The programme continues to be well received in Lagos State with over three thousand students benefitting from the UAC Goodness League free weekend classes in the past ten years across the different centres where the programme had operated,” he said.
Pupils who excelled in the various subjects were rewarded with gifts. Abibatu Mogaji Seniro Secondary Agege, stood out, carting the three prizes for Chemistry (Francis Onuora, 95 per cent; Godwin Emmanuel, 92 per cent; and Modashiru Adenike, 92 per cent). The school also produced the best overall pupil, Godwin Samuel, who also won the best prize in Biology.
Other schools that excelled were: Government Senior College Agege, Lagos Baptist Senior College, Vetland Senior Grammar School, State Senior High School, Alimosho Senior High School, and Dairy Farm Senior Secondary School.
The District Choir performed creditably at the event.
