In a move to complement efforts by the Kogi State Government to expand access to education and improve welfare of vulnerable children, the Ododo Vanguard for Tinubu has distributed school bags and other educational materials to indigent students across Ajaokuta Local Government Area.
The initiative, led by the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Taiye Abanika, is aimed at supporting children from disadvantaged backgrounds, particularly orphans and pupils whose parents face financial difficulties in providing basic school necessities.
Speaking during the exercise, Abanika said the initiative was inspired by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s commitment to improving the lives of the people, particularly children, through inclusive governance and support for education.
He explained that visits to schools across the community revealed that some pupils lacked basic learning materials, while others go to school in torn uniforms, without footwear and other essential items.
According to him, the intervention was designed to address some of these immediate needs through the provision of school bags, sandals, school uniforms, notebooks, socks and water bottles.
Abanika said the gesture also reflects the responsibility of those serving in the present administration to give back to society and support Governor Ododo’s development agenda.
The the Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Abdullahi Abdulmalik, described the exercise as exemplary and worthy of emulation, noting that education remains a cornerstone of development in any society.
He urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the materials, become worthy ambassadors of their schools and remain committed to academic excellence.
Abdulmalik also noted that the Kogi State Government had continued to prioritise education through its free education policy, aimed at ensuring that every child has access to learning opportunities.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Ajaokuta Local Government Area, Hon. Haruna Ganaja, commended the intervention, describing it as a demonstration of responsive leadership and commitment to grassroots development.
He said the gesture would go a long way in addressing some of the immediate educational needs of families, particularly those facing financial challenges, while encouraging other well-meaning individuals and organisations to invest in the future of young people.
In his remarks, the Ohi of Ajaokuta, His Royal Highness, Isah Achuja, commended Governor Ododo for what he described as exemplary and inclusive leadership that places education among its priorities.
The traditional ruler said the intervention would provide meaningful support to the beneficiaries and ease some of the financial challenges confronting their families.
He also praised Abanika for identifying with the Governor’s vision and translating the administration’s commitment to education into practical support for children in the community.
