From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
A lawmaker representing Orhionmwon South Constituency at the Edo State House of Assembly, Bright Iyamu, has doled out over 10,000 writing materials to primary school pupils in his constituency as part of effort to cushion the economic hardship on parents, occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy.
Speaking during the official flagging off ceremony of the Hon. Bright Back to School Programme free books distribution exercise at Iguododo Primary School, in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of the state, Bright Iyamu said parents know the importance of education but due to the present economic reality, some of them have not been able to fulfil that obligation to their children by buying them their writing materials.
He said when he visited the school some time ago, he saw the need to bridge the gap for the parents so that the pupils can learn with easy.
“This is actually my village. So, I know the economic situation right now. I know it is not very easy for parents to take care of their children very well the way they wanted to.
“I came to this school some time ago, I saw that even some of the pupils don’t have good books to enable them learn.
“So, I decided to put it upon myself that as soon as the school resumes this term , I am going to share notebooks across this whole constituency.
“I am not just doing it alone for my village but across the whole Orhionmwon South,” Iyamu promised.
He however called on the sons and daughters of Orhionmwon to emulate this kind gesture adding that education as we speak today, still remain the key to unlocking potentials.
While responding to the demand of the head teacher of the school, Mr. Lucky Osayende, over dearth of teachers in the school, he (Iyamu) said he was already discussing with the relevant authorities to ensure that more teachers are sent to the school.
On the part of the primary schools visited, pupils from those schools, all expressed gratitude to the donor just as they promised to make good use of the writing materials.