By Olasunkanmi Akoni

Over 85 qualified Students of Lagos Island indigenes have received Wasiu Eshilokun Sanni, 2022/2023 full annual undergraduate scholarship scheme.

The scholarship award were classified into N100,000, N85,000 and N75,000 catigories.

The beneficiaries, basically tertiary students, were presented with the Scholarship and consolatory prizes at the weekend during the 11th edition of the Wasiu Eshilokun Sanni 2022/2023 annual Awards, held at Lagos Island Local Government.

The award aimed at supporting indigent students and help their parents to easily secure the children’s future for a better tomorrow. 

This year’s scholarship award saw  students meritoriously selected by a panel that comprised of schools principals and leaders of the committee. 

The criteria included: indigency residency, citizenship, discipline, among others. 

Speaking with newsmen, the sponsor, Eshilokun, said that the presentations was held towards the fulfilment of the government convention to her people, and strive to secure and protect our common future by making education affordable to all the qualified students in our communities. 

According to Eshilokun, “I want to commence this with my heartfelt appreciation to the entire people of Lagos Central for your support and echo of confidence as reflected in your vote for our dear party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the just concluded elections. 

“This is not just a renewal of the social contract between the people and the elected, but a show of repositioning of trust  Let me resate our commitment that we shall not let you down. 

“In furtherance of not letting you down, may it be noted that today, we further our annual steps toward the fulfillment of our convention to our people in our strive to secure and protect our common future by making education affordable to all the qualified students in our communities.

“Taking from the wisdom in the Chinese proverb that says, if you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people.

“It is my belief that aiding the affordable education of eligible students in our communities is the best way of safeguarding the future of our children and procuring sustainable development in our communities

“Our journey to procure the license for the good future of our children through muss education started many years ago, and am dedicated to doing much more, because I understand that education is the enduring life of a society as i disseminate and radiates across generations. 

“From my efforts at the local government on education through the building and rehabilitation of schools and vocational centers; our Free Jamb Form initiative; free school buss services, to this scholarship scheme, among others, our aim is to make education not just appealing but also affordable to all our willing children. 

“Let me reiterate, we shall do even more than before.

“It is my hope and prayers that these set of students will further be found worthy of the award for subsequent years till they complete their studies as this will signify that they do not fall below the selection standards.

“This, however, depends on them as further screening will be done to determine the awardees in the following years. 

He urged the beneficiaries to continue to be worthy in learning and characters, so they could continue to enjoy the benefits of the scholarship. 

“It is my desire and prayers to God to enable me to extend the various education schemes not only by the numbers of awardees, but to cover postgraduate studies in Nigeria and abroad

“By this time next year, this scheme shall transcend the Lagos Island students. We shall extend it to cover the whole of Lagos district and by inference, Lagos Central This, will be the reflection of your mandate given to us.”

The Chairman of Lagos State Universal Basic Education, LASUBEB, Wahab Alawiye-King, advised the beneficiaries in his address, to take advantage of the scholarship opportunities, and be serious with their studies, that education is one of the important component, and a weapon that can be used to make peace in the world and fight poverty.

He congratulated Eshilokun for the laudable scheme, urging him to keep going higher and continue to enlarge what is doing in the education sector.

Alawiye-King, commended him also for providing necessary score, that is required for the people to contribute to the development of the nation.

One of the beneficiaries, Lagos State University Student, Miss Agboola Funmilayo, expressed joy over the Eshilokun scholarship scheme and commended him for the good work and success, that she was so surprised when she was selected and called for an interview, at Alausa Secretariat ikeja,.

The best post graduate student, Miss Mariam Eshilokun Sanni read the father’s speech. 

Other Beneficiaries of N25 million in the same programme were the Lagos Island 40 market men and women from the Igbehinadun Market, Oja Oba Market, Ajewole Market and Gala Sellers of the small business owners.

Others in attendance were: Abiodun Aromire, APC deputy chairman Moshood Mayegun, comrade Alabi, and former Executive Chairman of Itire ikate Local Council Development Area,, Hakeem Bamgbola.