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From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
Amid growing national concerns over declining reading culture among Nigerian students, the federal, state, local governments as well as well-meaning individuals in the country have been urged to introduce incentives-driven programmes that will reward academic excellence to revive students’ interests in reading and learning.
Apostle (Dr) Julius Oluwafemi stated this during an empowerment programme in Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, organised by a non-governmental organisation, Solution Forum for Human Development and Community Growth.
Speaking at the organisation’s maiden empowerment programme tagged ,“People Empowerment and Community/Institution Development Project,” Oluwafemi, the facilitator of the programme stressed that government-backed incentives, including scholarships, rewards, recognitions among others for outstanding students, could help rekindle their interest in reading and studying.
“Government at all levels should find a way of celebrating values in our students. Well-meaning individuals in the country are also not left out. They should promote research minds. Financial supports, scholarships, recognitions among other initiatives from governments and wealthy individuals regularly can help rekindle reading culture among students and foster academic development.”
Oluwafemi, a retired secondary school principal also pointed out that excessive use of mobile phones and spending long hours on social media platforms, were negatively impacting students ‘reading culture. He suggested periodic sensitisation of the public to curb the trend among them.
“The way out is sensitisation because the social media is for all ends. It can be positively used; it can also be adversely used. But those who are in control of the media should enlighten the public more on the positive utilisation of the media and avoid any aspect of utilisation that can cause setbacks, especially to individuals or the society. All strata of the public should be properly educated to achieve positive utilisation.”
According to the cleric, the decision to make positive impacts in the society informed the establishment of the foundation and the programme was put in place basically to support indigent students and women in the society, as part of efforts to reduce poverty and ease hardship among the less privileged in Ekiti State. He explained that over 200 applications were received, from which beneficiaries were carefully selected. While the students were given scholarships, the women received grants to support their businesses.
“When we look into the society, there is a lot of poverty and setbacks, hence the need to elevate people out of these problems and this is part of the initiative.
” This is the maiden edition. What we did was to inform people about the organisation and we encouraged them to apply. We have so many applications with us. And from these applicants, we have just selected those that benefitted today and by God’s grace as we harness more support funds we will invite those who are still on the list
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“We registered this organisation with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), we registered it with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), we opened both local and foreign accounts. The funds are partly from our purse, those of us that are involved and we also contacted some good spirited people, we told them about the organisation, its mission and vision and some of them supported us.
“We selected 10 secondary school students from different schools, three students from higher institutions, and six women engaged in small-scale businesses. “Those in the higher institutions, we started with N50,000 for each student, those in secondary schools, we gave each of them N20,000 and those in the business category, we also started with N50,000 and once we have more funds we will still attend to more.
“And these students, we pray they do well in their studies. When we receive good reports concerning them by the following session, they will still be part of those to be considered with additional scholarships and by that time, with more funds we will be able to increase the amount that will be given to each of them.”
In his goodwill message, Dr Olu Afolabi, a pastor and senior lecturer in one of the universities in Ekiti State, commended the facilitator and described the initiative as laudable. He urged the beneficiaries to spend the money judiciously. “To all the student beneficiaries, please, spend the money given to you judiciously. This is a great opportunity that has come your way. Read your books, aim for the best and work towards it. Also, businesswomen, use the money to support your businesses. Business mogul and the richest man in Africa, Aliko Dangote from Nigeria started his business that has become giant today very small,”
Pastor Adesuyi Femi, in his goodwill message, praised the facilitator for coming up with the initiative.
“There is no legacy like education. This is not a small project. Education is good, please face your studies. What you are being given here today is a big gift. Bear in mind that it will multiply. To the traders, you can start something with this token and if you have an existing business, use the money to support your business.”
Some beneficiaries, including, Ikueduranni Fisayo, a 300-level student of Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti (BOUESTI) and Ojolo Favour, a 300-level student of the College of Nursing Science, EKSUTH, Ado-Ekiti, commended the facilitator and pledged to use the funds judiciously.
“This support will go a long way in helping me offset part of my tuition fees. I want to really appreciate the facilitator and I pray God will continue to replenish him,” Fisayo said.
In separate interviews, some of the secondary school beneficiaries such as Ogunleye Fredrick of BOBAS Science School, Ikere-Ekiti, Olanipekun David of Merit School, Oladele Rachel of Ikere High School, and Olorunfemi Busayo of St. Louis Grammar School, Ikere, described the gesture as a dream come true, promising to channel the funds toward school fees and purchase of external examination forms. They all lauded the initiative and expressed their unreserved gratitude to the facilitator.
