Hon. Sanni Ganiyu Okanlawon the lawmaker representing Kosofe constituency 1 at the Lagos State House of Assembly has doled out 7million naira as scholarship award to 70 brilliant students, who are his constituents studying in different tertiary institutions across the country.
Okanlawon who chairs the House committee on Local Government Community, Rural and Chieftaincy Relations in the second edition (2023/2024) of OKLA Scholarship Scheme, theme: Re-Routing Our Tertiary Education To Economic Independence & Self Reliance, held at the SUBEB Multipurpose Hall Maryland Lagos, noted that giving back to humanity is key especially at periods like this when many are financially challenged.
“There was a time I heard that some of the students in my constituency who are in their 300 level are about dropping out of school,imagine that. People like us ought to assist such people to plant a legacy of service,to help the have nots,to support the weak and vulnerables. So that we can have a sane society.
“During the programme it resonated to me that we should scale it up and some people supported while the programme was on going with 2million,1million and five hundred thousand naira.
“So if we can articulate the thought and bring it together as a foundation aided by handshake, synergy and partnership by any other well meaning members of my constituency even corporate organizations, I believe the sky is the beginning.”
The lawmaker noted that the criteria are carefully designed by his scholarship committee in such a way that brilliant but financially challenged student benefitted from the scheme.
“Certainly you must be a resident of this constituency,Kosofe constituency 01,you must be in the tertiary institution,either University,Polytechnic or Colleges of Education and your grade must not be below 2.5 or lower credit.Also you must be brilliant and financially challenged.
“Those are the criteria and I want to thank the Scholarship Committee I established for their diligence, painstaking efforts and for being meticulous at work.They’ve done a great job and I appreciate them.”
Speaking to the theme of the programme Okanlawon re-echoed the stance of the Guest Speaker Professor Rotimi Oladele, he counseled further that something drastic should be done to upscale societal reckoning for vocational competence, to make individuals with required skills in various vocations better sought after and help address our needs through our educational system.
“All parents want their wards to do well but all that is happening now in our world concerning the dwindling economy which made it quite hard for people to feed convieniently is the root cause of our problem.
“For instance some of the students who are beneficiaries of this scholarship scheme, are 300 level students of UNILAG and UNIPORT, some are in 200 level, others are about writing their project but could not afford the required payment, so we had to come to their rescue so that they will not drop out of school.
“So that we can churn out products from our tertiary institution, who are self reliant and that can comfortably contribute their quota in the development of our society and the global community.
“Our Guest Lecturer Professor Rotimi Oladele harped on the fact that our educational curriculum need to fashioned along the trend in the world today,especially in Nigerian context when someone is educated we must see the positive impact of education in their lives.
“He also emphasized the fact that our colonial masters from whom we got our independence were the main course of the issue, because they were teaching us what can benefit the economy of their country not ours, but if we can reinvent it in such a way that our education is tailored towards addressing our basic needs here.
“If someone who is doing plumbing,bricklaying,carpentry work gets the needed vocational training it will be useful as they graduate from the University. Maybe BSc Carpentry, BSc Plumbing, BSc Welding, BSc Masonry, surely with this certification he needs not beg to apply anywhere before he can get a job.
“Such can do his or her work given the competence in any of the stated field either as a sole entrepreneur or otherwise,this will further boost our economy and a serene society is made possible since such has a work to do with which he can cater for his needs comfortably.
“Poverty is the major cause of terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and all other social vices pillaging our land, this is not a justification for crime but if we can structure our education in such a way that most of our societal needs are being attended to it will do us a lot of good.
“The scheme is not skewed toward tribal sentiment, being a beneficiary relates not to you being a Yoruba person,here we have many Ibos,Hausas and more once you meet the criteria.
“It is basically to help those who are financially challenged,so that our children can study and come out in flying colours and be useful to themselves,their family and the society.
Many dignitaries in Kosofe political landscape were physically present at the event, these includes: Otunba Bushura Alebiosu a GAC Member,APC Lagos East Senatorial Leader (Special Guest of Honour), Hon Nureni Akinsanya a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Mushin constituency 1, Mayor Dele Osinowo the Executive Chairman of Agboyi Ketu LCDA and Barr. Moyosore Ogunlewe the Executive Chairman Kosofe LGA and many others.
Omooba Samuel Sosanya a GAC Member was ably represented at the gathering.
The Honourable Commissioner for Tertiary education Mr.Tolani Sule in his remarks at the epoch making event also charge well meaning individuals to support government and emulate Hon. Okanlawon whose effort at encouraging academics excellence he declared will evolve a better future for Lagos and Nigeria.
A widow Mrs. Ebere Silfi said “my two children- Fortune Ebere a student of University of Port Harcourt and Henry Ebere a student of Micheal Okpara University are beneficiaries of this scholarship award, few weeks back I was just contemplating within me how to pay my children school fees.
Some of the beneficiaries of OKLA Scholarship Scheme
“They have given them deadline to pay up, meanwhile the loan I collected last year for their school fees, I have not finished paying back let alone collecting another one, already I have the plan to ask them to write for deferment till when help comes.
“So I am very happy today that I am alive to witness this programme and my children were part of the awardees, at least to pay their school fees. I want to urge as many parents like me to keep praying to God, I have no husband to help so I rely solely on God and he has never let me down, parents should pray for their wards as well, I am about losing hope but God intervened, I am an Ibo woman but they considered merit and here I am.
For one of the beneficiary Miss Ogbeh Susan Ayobami an ND2 Business Administration student of LASPOTECH the lawmaker’s kind gesture has done her a lot of good.“It has lifted off a burden from our parents.
“I was selected owing to my 2.62 CGPA , I tendered my result, and means of identification they also checked our composure and confidence, as well as our ability to articulate our thoughts.
“My parent are not financially able so it is a timely intervention from Hon Okanlawon that will help me further more in my academic pursuit.
Olorunjebe Ibrahim a 300 level student of Tai Solarin University of Education studying History and Diplomatic Studies has this to say about the programme, “the Okla Scholarship Scheme is going to go a long way for me and I believe that applies to other beneficiaries as well.
“Education is the best legacy one can give to humanity and sometimes financial burden hinders the success of students, so when financial burden is out of it, it enables students to perform exceptionally in their academic activities. I am surprised that Hon Okanlawon could do this as a state assembly lawmaker, so imagine what to expect if he represents us at a higher position, he will do better than this.”