Lawmaker representing Badagry Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Dr Bonu Solomon has presented over N20 million education support to 350 indigent students.
Solomon made the presentation during the Fourth Edition of Bonu Education Support Initiative tagged ‘Bonu Sanwo Tinubu Bursary and Scholarship Scheme’ yesterday in Badagry.
Speaking after the presentation, Solomon said the initiative was to encourage the students to face their studies.
“We started this scholarship scheme with N30,000 and N50,000 when I was the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu four years ago.
“But today, we have upgraded to N50,000 and N100,000. Today, 350 students from the three local government areas will go home with N50,000 and N100,000, depending on their courses.
“Also, we have five of them that graduated with first class honors, they are permanently on a salary scheme of N50,000 until they secure employment.
“Today, more than 350 students from three councils in Badagry will go home with N50,000 and N100,000 respectively for their education support initiative,” he said.
The lawmaker thanked the late Lagos State Governance Advisory Council member and All Progressives Congress Apex leader in Badagry, Sunny Ajose, for his advice and encouragement on the initiative.
“This is one of my initiatives that he so much cherished, everyday, even till his death; he will call me and say, ‘Bonu do not forget this students.’
“You know that they are the future of tomorrow, make sure that you save toward giving to them.
“That prepared and gave me the morale, that if an elderly man can continue to remind me, definitely the programme is dear to his heart.
“Baba Sunny loved education so much; so, all we have to do is to make sure that we have little savings to cater for these students,” he said.
He thanked the three traditional rulers, who donated generously to the initiative and other APC chieftains that graced the programme.
The Oniba-Ekun of Iba, Oba Adesina Raji donated N2,000,000; the Alapa of Apa Kingdom, Oba Oyekan Adekanmi, donated N1,000,000, while the Oniworo of Iworo Kingdom, Oba Olu Kosoko, gave N500,000.
A lecturer at the Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo, Professor Paul Thovoetin, said more than 600 students within Badagry had applied for the scholarship scheme.
Thovoetin, who is also the Chairman of the initiative, said 350 students qualified for the award after screening.
“Qualified undergraduates will collect N50,000, while we have increased those in other levels with grade 4.0 point to N100,000 each, this year.
“We started with just 150 students four years ago, thereafter, 250 and now we have more than 350 awardees.
“Some of them are not here, but we still get across to them and give them their token, as we have been directed by the sponsor of this initiative,” he said.
Another lecturer at LASU, Professor Henry Hunjo, urged the awardees to be disciplined and concentrate on their studies, stressing the importance of discipline and focus in university life.
Hunjo assured the awardees that he would be available for assistance whenever they need guidance in their academics.
A former Deputy Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service, Mr Abiodun Hundeyin urged notable men in the town to collaborate to assist students.
According to him, the community’s advancement depends on the education and empowerment of our youth.
Speaking on behalf of the awardees, Miss Finayon Bamgbose, a 300-level student of LASU, said the money had been helping her in school.
Bamgbose thanked the lawmaker for assisting students. (NAN)
