ABEOKUTA — More than 1,000 students across the Ogun Central Senatorial District have benefited from the third edition of the education empowerment programme initiated by Senator Shuaibu Afolabi Salisu.

The programme, held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, provided beneficiaries with school bags, exercise books, JAMB past questions, mathematical sets and other educational materials aimed at supporting their academic development.

Senator Salisu, who represents Ogun Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly and chairs the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, said the intervention was part of his sustained efforts to promote education, digital literacy and ICT skills among young people.

Speaking on the theme, “Investing in Education, Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders,” Senator Salisu said the initiative was designed to reduce the financial burden on parents while providing students with essential tools to improve their academic performance.

According to him, his interventions in the education sector go beyond the distribution of learning materials to include ICT centres, science laboratories and other educational infrastructure across the senatorial district.

Salisu, while recounting his personal educational journey, disclosed that he was once the first graduate in his family, adding that the family now has close to 100 graduates across different professions.

He recalled that a defining moment in his educational journey occurred in 1980 when, as a student, he represented his school in a quiz and debating programme broadcast by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

He said the encouragement he received from his father after watching the programme, as well as his mother's advice to remain confident in doing what was right, strengthened his determination to pursue education.

The senator also narrated his professional journey from the private sector and banking, where he worked in four banks in technology and operations, to multinational organisations, before serving as Chief of Staff in Ogun State and later becoming a senator.

Salisu said his educational interventions were aimed at equipping young people with the knowledge, skills and opportunities required to succeed academically and prepare for the future.

He cited the ICT centre provided at Community High School, Oluke, in memory of the late Senator Kole Oyeru, as one of his interventions, while noting that other schools across Ogun Central had benefited from ICT facilities, science laboratories and related projects.

He also mentioned Ishaga Grammar School, Ishaga Orile, whose educational needs, he said, were brought to his attention by Hon. Babatunde Tella.

The senator urged the beneficiaries to make effective use of the materials provided and challenged them to become agents of positive transformation in their families and communities.

Salisu Honours 2026 WASSCE Best Students With Laptops

As part of the programme, Senator Salisu honoured the best male and female students in the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Ogun Central with laptops.

The best male student, Ogunlade John Omotolani, a physically challenged SS3 student of St. Peter’s Grammar School, received a laptop for his outstanding academic performance.

The best female student, Busari Kaosarat Aramide of Community High School, Oluke, was also presented with a laptop after emerging as the best female student in the 2026 WASSCE in the senatorial district.

Other outstanding students, including physically challenged students from St. Peter’s Grammar School and Ansar-deen Grammar School, Ishaga Orile, were also recognised for their academic achievements.

Senator Salisu expressed satisfaction with the performance of the students, particularly those from public schools and less privileged backgrounds, saying their achievements demonstrated what young people could accomplish when given the necessary support and opportunities.

The Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, commended Senator Salisu for the initiative, describing the intervention as an investment in the future of the beneficiaries.

Arigbabu urged the students to make proper use of the educational materials and remain committed to their studies, noting that the initiative complemented the state government's efforts in the education sector.

The commissioner said Senator Salisu had consistently supported initiatives aimed at improving learning among young people through interventions in infrastructure, ICT and other educational projects.

He further disclosed that the ministry would be interested in monitoring the academic progress of the beneficiaries to assess the impact of the intervention.

Arigbabu recalled that Senator Salisu had previously supported outstanding students, including two University of Lagos graduates who recorded a 5.0 GPA and received laptops, with one of the beneficiaries subsequently securing a full scholarship.

Oke-Ona Grammar School Wins Salisu Debate Competition

The event also featured a debate competition involving 32 students from 16 secondary schools across Ogun Central Senatorial District.

The debate, which focused on the topic, “The Benefits of A1 in Education Outweigh Its Risks,” saw Oke-Ona Grammar School, Abeokuta, emerge as the winner.

The school received a cash prize of N200,000, while Ebenezer Grammar School came second and received N150,000.

United Comprehensive High School, Wasimi, placed third and received N50,000, while Ibusi Comprehensive High School, Ifo, and Lafenwa High School also received N50,000 each.

Senator Salisu reaffirmed his commitment to educational development in Ogun Central, stressing that his personal experience had continued to reinforce his belief that sustained investment in education remained a major pathway to equipping young people and strengthening society.