By Kehinde Oluwatayo
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As part of efforts to ensure that more school dropouts are encouraged to go back to school, the Ondo State Government yesterday kicked off the distribution of Customized Stainless Plates and SDGs Textbooks at Alagbaka Estate Primary School, Akure.
The Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) represented by Senior Special Adviser on Public and Intergovernmental Relations, Mrs. Olubunmi Ademosu while acknowledging the challenges of insecurity, paucity of fund among others said the challenges were not enough excuses for it to fail on its mandates.
While appreciating the management of First Bank Plc for partnering with the government by donating the sum of N20million for the procurement of feeding bowls. The Governor also appreciated the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs for also donating textbooks for the young ones.
In his goodwill message, Mr. Olaoluwa Ojedokun speaking on behalf of First Bank Plc acknowledged the good work being embarked upon by the government just as it assured of its readiness to continue to partner government whenever the need arise
The climax of the event however was the presentation of the plates and SDGs Textbooks to the schools in attendance.
In a chat with newsmen, Mrs. Olubunmi Ademosu, the focal person for all Social Investment Programmes in the state said the initiative will be replicated across the 18 local government areas of the state.
Mrs. Ademosu who said well over 108,785 pupils will be reached across the state further noted that the school feeding programme has gone a long way in encouraging more parents to enroll their kids just as many more school dropouts have been enrolling in schools across the state.
While noting that pupils are always excited about the food being served, Mrs. Ademosu thanked Mr. Governor and President Muhammad Buhari most especially for embarking on the project.
Earlier in her remarks, the Headmistress of Alagbaka Estate Primary School, Mrs. Grace Epemogo while thanking the Governor for the gesture further affirmed that with the school feeding programme, more pupils now enrol for schools.
Others in attendance at the event include SSA to the Governor on Social Investment, Bar Felix Alonge, the Program Manager, Mr. Sesan Olupona, representatives from different schools, officials from State Universal Basic Education Board among others.
The school feeding programme is for pupils from Primary 1-3 and since its commencement, more school’s dropouts have been taking advantage of the initiative to enroll in schools and ten schools- Mega Primary School Ijapo Estate, St Luke’s Primary School, Idi Agba Tuntun, Mega Primary School, Irowu, St. John Anglican Primary School, Oba Ile, Sacred Heart Primary School, Akure and St Stephen Primary School among others participated in the programme.
