By Daniel Abe
Thousands of pupils and students in public primary and secondary schools across Irewolede Local Council Development Area, Ekiti State, have received school bags and exercise books under the council’s annual Back-to-School programme.
The intervention, initiated by the council chairperson, Hon. Dupe Bakare, was held on Tuesday at the council secretariat and was attended by pupils, students, teachers and education stakeholders from schools across the LCDA.
Beneficiaries were drawn from Iloro Community High School, Ijurin Comprehensive High School, Temidire Community High School, Ayegunle High School and Okeoro/Iroko High School, among others.
Primary school beneficiaries included pupils from Pilot Primary School, Ijurin-Ekiti; St. Mary’s Primary School, Iloro-Ekiti; Community Primary School, Temidire-Ekiti; Oba Babade Nursery/Primary School, Okeoro-Ekiti; United Primary School, Iloro-Ekiti, and other schools across the council area.
Speaking at the event, Bakare said the initiative was not merely about distributing educational materials but a deliberate investment in the future of the children and the development of Irewolede LCDA and Ekiti State.
She said the programme was designed to reduce the financial pressure on parents, encourage school attendance and retention, and promote academic excellence among children.
Bakare also congratulated the pupils and students on the new academic session and commended teachers for their commitment to educating the younger generation.
She said the initiative was in line with the human capital development component of the six-point agenda of the Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji.
“This programme aligns squarely with Pillar Two of Mr Governor’s agenda on Human Capital Development, which emphasises free and qualitative education up to Senior Secondary School as a fundamental right of every child,” Bakare said.
The council boss urged parents to pay closer attention to the upbringing and education of their children, particularly by monitoring their academic progress and instilling discipline.
She equally charged the beneficiaries to take their studies seriously and make proper use of the materials provided.
In his goodwill message,the Education Secretary(ES), Ijero Local Government, Comrade Francis Agunbiade, commended Bakare for what he described as her commitment to improving education at the grassroots.
Agunbiade said the programme demonstrated the chairperson’s efforts to translate the policies of the state government into practical benefits for residents.
“Hon. Bakare has performed wonderfully well and I commend her for this initiative,” he said.
Also speaking, the Head of Local Council Administration, Mr Babatunde Vincent, commended Governor Oyebanji for the timely release of funds to local governments.
According to him, the availability of funds had enabled the council leadership to embark on various developmental projects and people-oriented programmes across the LCDA.
Representing the teachers, Mrs Olubummi Akinleye and Mr Ezekiel Adediro thanked Bakare for the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention that would provide relief for pupils, students and their parents.
Two beneficiaries, Master Olusola Akolade of Iloro Community High School and Oseni Okikiola of Oba Babade Nursery/Primary School, Okeoro, also expressed gratitude to the council chairperson and prayed for her continued success.
In a separate gesture, Bakare also donated new uniforms to members of the Nigerian Legion, Irewolede LCDA chapter.
The chairperson said she decided to replace the uniforms after observing during the last Armed Forces Remembrance Day that the uniforms worn by some Legion members had become old and worn out.
Bakare commended the Legion members for their past sacrifices and contributions to the unity and security of the country.
She said the donation was a modest way of appreciating their service and sacrifices to Nigeria.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Irewolede LCDA chapter, Mr Michael Adeyiola, thanked Bakare for the gesture and prayed for greater success for the council chairperson.