A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State, Hon. Ayodele Asalu, has stated that every stakeholder must complement and support the interventions of President Bola Tinubu in the education sector.
Asalu made this known during the distribution of free West African Secondary School Certificate Examination and Unified Tertiary Matriculation forms to students in Ejigbo local government area of Osun on Friday.
The gesture includes free 250 WASSCE forms for students across all public schools in Ejigbo, while 300 students will be enrolled for UTME.
Asalu said “It is important I mention that the current challenges in our dear country also demand that we all rise, join hands and support government to drive pro-people policies that will ultimately lead to the development of our country. An example of such pro-people policies of the current government is the student loan scheme that will soon commence.
Our leader and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is launching the scheme to ensure that indigent students are able to get quality tertiary education. This scheme, once it commences, will also help drastically reduce the population of out-of-school children in Nigeria from the 20.2 million we had as of December 2023, as it will guarantee education opportunities for all.”
He furthered by saying “One of the ways we can complement this laudable move, is by ensuring that indigent students in our respective domains are able to scale the required examinations that they need to get into tertiary institutions. One of such efforts is what we are doing here today.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is in a hurry to reform several sectors of our Nation, to reposition the country for true growth and development. The efforts are however coming with hardships that are inevitable, if we must truly grow and become a Nation where there are equal opportunities for all”, he said.
The honorable said he is committed to the development of the communities in area of education, agriculture, and electrification.
He said “My efforts have included purchase and installation of more than five hundred (500) Solar Streetlights in Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore and Ejigbo Local Governments.
“I have also distributed agricultural support packages to more than five hundred (500) farmers in Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore, Iwo, Ayedire, Ola-Oluwa and Ejigbo Local Governments to stimulate food production and contribute to food security”.
“I have distributed more than three thousand (3000) WAEC and UTME forms across Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore and our dear Ejigbo Local Governments. I have also awarded scholarships worth millions of Naira to many students of these Local Governments”, he said.
Hon. Bade Falade, a former member of House of Representatives, described Asalu as a man sent to Ejigbo, stating his efforts towards building Ejigbo is highly commendable.
Falade said, “This program, which is being implemented today, has been ongoing for some time. Engr Asalu’s decision to sponsor 250 students is a rare achievement. Only few can try this in our State today. This is someone that is not holding any political office as we speak today. He deserves commendation”
Hon. Falade also called on Nigerians to be patient and have trust in the present administration of President Tinubu, declaring that better days are ahead.
Oba John Oyekan Oyegbade Alado of Ado-Orioke also expressed his admiration for a program aimed at supporting students.
He stated, “It is very difficult for many parents to afford the fees for their children’s WAEC and JAMB exams, especially given the current state of Nigeria’s economy. This initiative taken by Engr Asalu is truly commendable.” The Oba also encouraged students to seize this opportunity and focus on their education.
Representative of the state chairman of APC, Prince Adeoye Oluwole, said the party is greatly benefitting the programmes and projects being carried out by Asalu.
Some of the students who are beneficiaries of the program shared their heartfelt gratitude and thanked their generous sponsor for the life-changing opportunity.
Lawal Testimony, one of the program’s recipients, could not contain his joy and expressed, “I was overjoyed when I heard that the funds for my educational fees were paid. I sincerely pray that God almighty blesses our sponsor, Engr Asalu, and I aspire to become one of the successful leaders of the future.”
Adegboyeka Abiodun, another beneficiary of the programme also shared a similar message, promising that he would only repay the gesture by “coming out in flying colours”.
