The Lisabi Elite Club, Abeokuta, Nigeria, has embarked on the 2nd Edition of its Exercise Books Donation and Cash Support Programme, providing educational materials to selected primary schools and financial assistance to indigent but brilliant learners across the six local government areas of Egbaland, Ogun State.

The initiative, implemented under the LEN Education Support Project, is part of the club’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and educational intervention programme aimed at supporting pupils, particularly those from less privileged backgrounds, with essential learning materials and financial assistance.

The 2nd edition represents a significantill expansion of the programme. While six schools benefited from the initiative last year, the club has increased the number to 12 schools this year, covering the six local government areas of Egbaland.

The beneficiary schools include St. Matthew Anglican Primary School, Baale Ogunbayo, and NUD Primary School, Bode Olude, in Odeda; St. John’s African Church Primary School, Idi Oori, and Owu Methodist Primary School, Oke Sokori, in Abeokuta North; Christ Anglican Primary School, Oba, and United Anglican Primary School, Moloko Asipa, in Obafemi Owode; NUD Primary Schools I and II in Ifo; All Saints Anglican Primary School, Itori, and Olumo Nursery and Primary School, Ogunsolu, in Ewekoro; as well as Saint Peter Nursery and Primary School, Ake, and Baptist Nursery and Primary School 1, Idi Aba, in Abeokuta South.

Speaking on the rationale behind the intervention, the President of Lisabi Elite Club of Nigeria, Hon. Faruk Akintunde, who was represented by Chief Sina Yekinni, stressed the importance of providing pupils with the basic tools required for effective learning.

According to him, the provision of educational materials would help create a conducive learning environment while reducing the financial burden on parents and guardians.

“You don’t send a child to a farm without giving him tools to work. In the same way, we believe every child should have the basic materials to learn comfortably in class,” he said.

Hon. Akintunde, who was recently instalulace as the 25th President of the club, succeeding Mr. Charles Lanipekun, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to educational development and humanitarian initiatives.

Declaring the ceremony open on behalf of the club’s president, the Chairman of the LEN Education Support Project, Chief Sina Yekinni, said the expansion from six schools in the first edition to 12 schools in the second edition demonstrated the club’s commitment to reaching more pupils across Egbaland.

Yekinni said the club would continue to explore ways of supporting educational institutions and disclosed that further deliberations would be held on how to sustain assistance to the beneficiary schools.

The initiative, which received the approval of the Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), was applauded by school administrators and government representatives.

The Headmistress of NUD Primary School, Bode Olude, Mrs. Ola-Ategun, commended the club for the intervention, describing it as timely and impactful.

Similarly, the Education Secretary for Odeda Local Government, Imam Alhaji Sataar Omotola Oguntola, described the gesture as a significant intervention that would positively affect the pupils, particularly children from vulnerable backgrounds.

He prayed for the success of the beneficiaries and urged them to make good use of the materials provided.

“We pray that these children will succeed in life and also help others in the future,” he said.

Some of the indigent pupils who received cash support alongside the educational materials also expressed appreciation to the club.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Oyeneka Cicilia and Quadri Ojo, the Head Girl and Head Boy respectively, expressed gratitude for the gesture.

“I am very happy and I appreciate this kind gesture. We will take good care of the books and use them for learning. My mother will be very happy about this,” they said.

Other beneficiaries included Olude Mary, Ojo Quadri, Success Ogbaji, Akinsola Kamarudeen, Ajantolu Dennis Abigeal, Oku Godwin, Somuyiwa Deborah, Olalere Abdulkareem Opeyemi, Oderinde Hannah, Adam Zainab, Animashaun Nimota and Dickson Paulina.

The distribution was coordinated by the LEN Education Support Project, chaired by Chief Sina Yekinni.

Other members of the committee include Prince Olanrewaju Adekunle, Imam Sataar Omotola Oguntola, and Mr. Olujinmi Sogbesan, while Hon. Olusegun Bankole serves as the committee’s secretary.