Osun Lawmaker Enrolls 72 Out Of School Children On Scholarship

In his bid to reduce the tide of Out Of School Children in Osun State, the lawmaker representing Obokun Constituency at the state House of Assembly, Hon. Adewumi Adeyemi, has enrolled 72 children in school on scholarship.

Adeyemi, popularly known as Irekandu, expressed his worries on the growing number of Out Of School Children in the state, canvassing that every well to do individual must rise up to address the challenge.

The lawmaker provided school uniforms, writing materials and learning aids such as backpacks, textbooks, exercise books, cash among others to the 72 primary and secondary kids on Monday.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that 21 of the beneficiaries of the scholarship have not attended any school while 51 others were on the verge of being withdrawn from school by their parents when they could no longer fund thier education.

The 39-year-old lawmaker disclosed that while canvassing for votes, he was quite dissatisfied with the number of unenrolled children his team managed to gather.

He stated that one of the out of school children is Samuel who he met sitting with Okada riders where he had gone to sell local soaps.

“I became intrigued by him. His age and the things he needed to do to survive scared me. In addition to purchasing everything he was selling as a gift for others in attendance, I asked him where he went to school and learned that he had quit. I instantly re-enrolled him. We then launched our Back to School Project”, he stated.

Adeyemi said he’s purposely driven by service to humanity, saying: “As a lawmaker, I receive no constituency allowance but I’m purposely driven by service. But I promised to support my constituents, particularly with regard to issues involving education.

“We began with 21 kids and now we have removed 71 kids from the streets, and we’ll have more. Every child in Nigeria has a right to education.

Speaking at the event, 43-year-old Wumi Omotosho, revealed that her husband and her had been considering apprenticeship for their son when they could no longer afford the cost of his secondary school education.

Omotosho appreciated Adeyemi for considering her son as one of the beneficiaries of the scholarship for secondary school children.

“We as a family are unable to feed our children two square meals a day, and we will still be required to purchase textbooks, exercise books, and school supplies. We just cannot afford these things. We have been considering how to tell our first child that he must miss school so that his siblings can attend”

Another mother of one of the beneficiaries of the scholarship who identified herself as Dupe said she was ashamed of sending her daughter to school with tattered uniform and without school bag and books.

Dupe who’s having ends meet by grinding pepper said: “Irekandu is truly a gift from God. Due to finances, the prospect of my kids returning to school had been on my thoughts for the past few weeks.

“While her father struggles to pay tuition, I was considering getting loan to purchase a school bag and exercise books. However, when I learned that my daughter is a beneficiary of the scholarship program, I was overjoyed.”

While praising the scholarship program, the 37-year-old woman described it as an urgent rescue mission for the underprivileged and destitute.

A primary six student named Omotosho Sunday expressed his gratitude and appreciation to Adeyemi, saying he was grateful to be one of the recipients since the writing materials he received will greatly aid his academic progress.

In his remarks, the Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Wale Egbedun, said the project had no doubt positively impacted the lives of the youngsters.
Egbedun applauded the Adeyemi on the gesture, calling on other lawmakers and individual to imitate the programme.

• Sodiq Yusuf