Published By Olanrewaju Adesanya
Hon. Sanni Okanlawon in a wrap-up of his constituents intervention series, that spanned close to two months has doled out a scholarship fund which sums up to N2.2million to 22 brilliant students across Kosofe Constituency 1.
The scheme envisioned by the lawmaker is designed to aid the academic pursuit of students resident in Kosofe Local Government, who performed excellently well in their various tertiary institutions.
The exclusive scholarship scheme for Kosofe students bankrolled by Hon. Okanlawon, covers tuition fees, book allowance and stipend for one academic year.
According to the legislator, qualitative education forms the bedrock of all great societies, so he has decided that he would stop at nothing to ensure students within his constituency and by extension Lagos state get unfettered access to good education.
It would be recalled that last month (October) Hon. Okanlawon embarked on an intervention tour around primary schools in his constituency.
To assethl how conducive the learning environment is and as well give educational materials, financial assistance to fix cited issues that bothers ensuring the wellbeing of the pupils while learning like those with tattered uniforms, disturbing health conditions and more.
The lawmaker in continuation of the scheme also gave scholarship to 22 students based on great feats they’ve attained in their studies prior to now.
In addition the students were also offered free health insurance of N300,000 each courtesy Hon. Okanlawon in collaboration with an insurance company: Lafia Mill.
Some of the students who received N100,000 cash each at a well attended ceremony held at Banex Hotel and Suites, Lagos on Friday are: Adebayo Adeola, Oketunde Oladimeji, Babatola Eniola, Aliu Aliu O, Oshiname Oluwasegun, Gbadamosi Racheal, Olanrewaju Awoyinka, Williams Ebunoluwa, Umezuaku Onyeka amongst others.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Okanlawon who is also the Chairman House Committee on Education said the scheme was borne out of the desire to bridge the gap between the haves and the have-not particularly students who come from humble backgrounds.
According to the Lawmaker, “We received 50 applications out of which 22 were approved by the advisory committee to benefit from the scholarship scheme” adding that the beneficiaries cuts across many tribes.
Aside establishing an ICT/Computer center for Emmanuel High Nursery and Primary School, Ojota, Okanlawon said “we have commissioned OKLA Table Tennis Academy aimed at building world class champions through awakening of innate but untapped talents and promote another economic lifeline within the Kosofe community”.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folashade Adefisayo who was also present at the event urged beneficiaries not to relent in attaining excellence in their academic pursuit as the gesture of the lawmaker demands them going a notch higher.
Adefisayo said, “it is a wonderful development, the Honourable member of Kosofe 1 has given scholarship to a number of deserving students, and he did it using a transparent process, he doesn’t know anyone of them.
“So I think this is wonderful and worthy of emulation, he did it across tribes, religions. He doesn’t know them before they are just deserving.
“To the beneficiaries, I have spoken to them, somebody has watered you definitely you should water in future, but even before that they must do well.
“They must not shame the man who gave them the scholarship, they must always be on top wherever they go, because he has done this for them, they owe him a fantastic performance wherever they go.
The Chairman Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board,(LASUBEB) Hon. Wahab Alawiye King, who also graced the event call on all beneficiaries to put more effort and keep up the brilliance for which they have been rewarded with a scholarship by the lawmaker.
