…As lawmaker distributes educational materials to students

Ifako-Ijaiye has been named one of the most educated local government area of Lagos state by stakeholders in the education sector of Lagos state.This was as the lawmaker representing Ifako-Ijaiye Constituency I at the State House of Assembly, Hon. Adewale Temitope Adedeji, distributed thousands of school materials to students of the local government as part of his ‘Back To School Support Initiative’.The event, which took place at Fagba Junior Grammar School, Ifako-Ijaiye, attracted hundreds of schoolchildren, parents, teachers, community leaders, and stakeholders.Items distributed by the lawmaker included 500 school bags, 6,000 exercise books, 10,000 writing materials, 500 mathematical sets, 1,000 pairs of socks, and 500 water bottles.Speaking at the event, Hon. Adewale said the gesture, which is the 5th, was aimed at easing the financial burden of parents while motivating pupils to excel in their studies.Adewale, who distributed GCE and JAMB forms to candidates earlier in the year, said his effort was to complement the unwavering commitment of President Bola Tinubu in the education sector.

“Many people do not understand that service and leadership start from the grassroots. This is one thing that has kept Asiwaju Tinubu formidable over the years. His passion to bring education to children while as governor of Lagos state remains the most effective education strategy in recent times.“Today, we recognize him as the best President Nigeria has had. This is why I also encourage people to do the little that they can. The education of our children cannot be left to the government and parents alone,” he said.Adewale said education remains one of his top priorities as a legislator, describing it as the “bedrock of human and societal development.”He assured the students that as they excel, they would benefit from the free GCE and JAMB forms initiative as well as the scholarship scheme of the Adewale Temitope Adedeji Educational Initiative (ATA-EI).In his remarks, the Lagos Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Tolani Ali-Balogun, said Ifako-Ijaiye has been projected to become one of the most educated local government area in the state.Commending the lawmaker for his investment in education and support for the government, in he urged the beneficiaries to be focused on their studies as a way to encourage the lawmaker to do more.On his part, Dr. Afolabi Abiodun Tajudeen, Special Adviser on Political, Legislative and Civic Engagement to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, tasked the students to focus on their studies so they could enjoy a brighter future.The Tutor-General and Permanent Secretary, Education District 1, Dr Oyetola Olufunke Idowu, further confirmed that the lawmaker’s support for the government’s education stride saying this had started yielding results in the area looking at examination results of 2023 and 2024.Some of the beneficiaries promised to use the materials judiciously.

By 2031, Nigeria would have achieved 100 percent literacy level across the country, a Lagos lawmaker, Hon. Temitope Adedeji Adewale, has said.

Adewale, who represents Ifako-Ijaiye Constituency I at the State House of Assembly, made the assertion after inspecting the screening session for the distribution of his free GCE forms to prospective candidates in Lagos on Saturday.

The lawmaker commended the Federal Government for the various initiatives aimed at pulling the youth off the streets and engaging them in meaningful ventures including education.

He noted that since the introduction of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) by the President Bola Tinubu administration, more Nigerians are eager for admission into tertiary institutions in the country.

“You see, Mr. President is doing everything possible to boost the literacy level in the country. And given the way the government is going, by the end of President Tinubu’s second term in 2031, Nigeria will be boasting a 100 percent literacy rate and this would include resolving the issue of out-of-school kids,” Adewale said.

As at April, 2025, NELFUND said over 500,000 students had applied for loans across Nigeria.

The lawmaker described the figure as encouraging adding that it would help the government with future projections.

“It also gladens the heart that the state governments continue to support the Federal Government with various initiatives. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu attended the graduation ceremony of 5,300 residents from the Lagos Skill Acquisition Programmes. This means 5,300 residents are off the labour market.

“We are giving out 400 forms this year. We also give out JAMB forms because we know that education remains the strongest tool we can use to change lives and shape the future.

“This programme is part of my promise to ensure no student misses an opportunity because of financial constraints. Our goal remains to make Ifako-Ijaiye the most educated local government in Nigeria by 2031,” he said.

He said that through the Adewale Temitope Educational Initiatives (ATA-EI), he has given out over 8000 free GCE and JAMB forms so far with at least 120 students on scholarships in various tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

“This says a lot about the government’s interest in the youth and, given another term with President Tinubu and our party in power, Nigerians will look back sometime in the future and thank God that we had this chance,” he added.

Photo caption:

L-R: Team Lead, Human Resource and Business Partner East and South, Fidelity Bank Plc, Osayi Uwumarongie; Principal, Government Junior Secondary School Elekahia, Port Harcourt; Dr Ekeh Florence; Team Lead, CSR, Fidelity Bank Plc, Victoria Abuka; and Procurement Officer/Class President, Suncrest 2025 Inductees Class, Fidelity Bank Plc, Euphemia Okereafor; during the Fidelity Helping Hands Programme Donation to Government Secondary School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State recently.

In furtherance of its long-standing commitment to education and youth development, leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has donated a wide range of relief and academic materials to Government Junior Secondary School, Elekahia, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The donation was made possible by the unwavering dedication and generosity of a class of newly inducted staff, known as the Suncrest Inductee Class, under the Fidelity Helping Hands Programme (FHHP).

Through the FHHP, staff across Fidelity Bank’s business locations identify projects that impact their immediate community and raise funds to execute them. The bank’s management thereafter matches this contribution with an equal amount and disburses it for the selected project.

Speaking about the donation event, Divisional Head, Brand and Communications, Dr Meksley Nwagboh, noted the bank’s dedication to fostering community development and supporting children from underprivileged backgrounds.

“We deliberately chose a public school because we understand the challenges many students face. Our aim is to provide support that not only aids academic performance but also inspires hope for a brighter future,” said Dr Nwagboh.

He highlighted that the Bank’s initiative for school and students has spanned 15 years with numerous schools as beneficiaries nationwide. “At Fidelity Bank, we believe that investing in the next generation is a direct investment in the future of our country. This initiative is deeply rooted in our philosophy of grooming responsible future leaders and promoting social equity, with our members of staff being able to significantly contribute right from their early days in the bank” he affirmed.

In her remarks, the Principal, Government Junior Secondary School, Elekahia, Dr. Ekeh Florence, expressed heartfelt appreciation to Fidelity Bank for its generous gesture.

“We are sincerely grateful that Fidelity Bank remembered the students of our school. The materials they provided – which includes exercise books, biros, socks, footwear, sanitary items such as pads and shaving sticks, and even snacks – will go a long way in boosting the morale and academic readiness of our students,” Dr. Ekeh stated.

The students expressed their joy and appreciation, describing the donation as the first of its kind from any corporate organization. Many pledged to make the best use of the materials to improve their academic performance and personal development.

Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 9.1 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.

The Bank is the recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award for its Fidelity Mobile App by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award by Global Brands Magazine. Additionally, the Bank was recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence and as the Export Financing Bank of the Year by the BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.