A non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Amdalat Oloyede Foundation, on Tuesday donated no fewer than 11,000 copies of exercise books to students from selected secondary schools in Ibadan.
Prince Abioye Oloyede-Asanike (Jnr), while presenting the books to the students at the Ibadan City Academy on behalf of the chairman of the foundation, Brig.-Gen. Mutiu Abiola Oloyede said the initiative was aimed at addressing the challenges faced by students, particularly children with limited prospects for a better future.
“The project is a joint effort by my siblings to ensure the continuation of the free book distribution program that was initiated by our late mother many years back,” he said.
Prince Abioye Oloyede-Asanike (Jnr), while the writing and learning aids were distributed among students from Ibadan City Academy said;
“Last year we visited Ibadan city Academy, supplying 3,000 writing materials and scholarships for three students, This year, we expanded our efforts to cut across 7 schools and, benefiting 15 students with scholarships across various programs and providing over 11,000 writing and learning aids, “he said.
He listed the school visited in the latest phase to include Ibadan city academy, Eleta Ibadan, Iwajowa community high school ido-eruwa Oyo state, Community high school batake Idi-iya in Ido local government Oyo state.
“Others are: United Secondary School, Omi Adio, Community high school Ido, Akufo High School and Bakatari Community School in Ido local government area, “he said.
The chairman of the foundation Brig-Gen Abiola Oloyede explained that the foundation had been operating with the objective of providing practical solutions to societal issues which hinder development, through outreach programmes focused on human development.
“There is a need for the creation of a network of support for indigent students as well as an advocacy for a balanced society that prioritises the quality of life for children.
“The indigent students need access to quality education and adequate supply of necessary learning materials with support,” he noted.
Abiola Oloyede said similar projects would be extended to students from other schools across Oyo state in the next phase of the programme.
“In the past years, we have executed different phases of intervention for students with limited resources and other groups in the society.
“The essence of this is to motivate the children academically, to address the menace of being out of school in our society,” he said.
Also speaking during the ceremony, the Principal of Ibadan City Academy, Mr Adekunle Okunade, lauded Amdalat Oloyede Foundation for the gesture extended to the students.
He added that the initiative would also complement government’s efforts in ensuring that indigent students were properly empowered academically.
