A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo state and a former Special Adviser on Works and Transport to Late Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Engineer Muftau Open Salawu has given scholarship awards to 20 secondary school students in Ogbomoso North, Ogbomoso South, Oriire Federal Constituency.
The scholarship award ceremony which was the 5th edition was held on Wednesday in Ogbomoso.
While speaking, Open Salawu said the role and importance of education in a society made him decide to sponsor the students’ education adding that the students were picked based on merit.
The Waziri Jari Nupe also spoke on the insinuation that his scholarship award was because of politics saying it’s better to do good things because of politics than doing wrong thing.
He gave the projection and plans for the scholarship award in years noting that ensuring the money is being used for its purpose has been taskful.
“Alot is making me to do this. One, I’m privileged and lucky in my life to be able to get to this level. I won’t be here if I don’t have the education. So when it comes to education it’s just my weak point. When you mention education, that’s where you get my attention because we can only make the world better if we are all educated. Education comes with information, we all need information. I keep telling people that education has its own benefit. I look forward to support students so that they will be of great benefit to their parents and the society in general.
“I’m not doing it because of politics. But even if that’s the case, it’s good to do good things because of politics, we have a lot of people that are doing wrong things because of politics, sponsoring thuggery, anarchy and things that will not be of benefit to the society. So, if you sponsor people to acquire education because of politics, that’s the essence of politics. Politics should bring benefits to the society and one of the greatest benefits any society could get is education.
“This is not the first and it shouldn’t be the last. This is the 5th edition. There are some that we started with right from Primary 6 and they are in SS1. But most importantly, one thing I’m trying to do is to also make a projection that we don’t just need to do ceremony to waste our time since it’s annual thing. I have spoken with my bank, we are going to link our account to the accounts of the parents of these awardees so that every September, they will get the alert.
Also speaking, the Registrar of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Mr Kayode Ogunleye urged parents of the beneficiaries not to divert the money for another purpose.
Ogunleye urged the beneficiaries to be a good ambassador by utilising the opportunity given to them adding that they should count themselves lucky.
He promised to assist them in terms of getting admission into LAUTECH or any institution within his capacity.
The Soun Ogbomoso, Oba Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade III, urged people to support Engineer Muftau Open Salawu for him to be able to continue and do more.
Soun, who was represented by the Abese of Ogbomoso, High Chief Kasali Oladepo Yusuf urged parents to take very good care of their children saying the recent report on hard drugs showed Oyo state as one of the states where hard drug is rampant.
He also urged parents not to divert the money for another purpose. He suggested that the organisers should give money to schools and not parents to avoid actions of the middlemen.
Similarly, the Onpetu of Ijeru, Oba Sunday Oladapo Olagbami Osekun III commended Engineer Muftau Open Salawu for the initiative.
Onpetu who was represented by Chief Adelakun Felix Olayiwola urged parents to take care of their children.
Some of the beneficiaries were Taiwo Favor from Alapo Basic School; Ayanlowo Ayomide from Nurudeen Basic School 2; Ajani Christopher from Osupa Basic School 2; Bolaji Ayomitomiwa from St David Agboin; Abubakar Memunat from Nomadic Basic School, Gaa Jemuro and others.
