An economist, Dr Olumuyiwa Adedeji, has donated textbooks and stationery to the senior secondary school students at his alma mater, United Secondary School Agungu (USSA), Ibadan.
The presentation of the learning materials, which took place on Monday, March 4, at the school compound by the 1986 set of the school, had in attendance over 270 students, who are beneficiaries of the gesture, management staff, and representatives of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA).
In the same vein, the old students’ association, in partnership with the management and staff, recently put in place a tutoring programme for the SSS3 students to further prepare them for their forthcoming WAEC and NECO exams. This programme, which combines old students who are teachers and current teachers of the USSA, is expected to cost about three million naira.
Addressing students at the event, Dr Adedeji described the gesture as one borne out of conviction for providing a favourable learning environment for students.
According to Adedeji, “We are here today because of personal sacrifices and great commitment to the advancement of our alma mater. My ongoing financial contributions to the development of my alma mater are not because I’m wealthy, but because of my conviction that we rise by lifting others. I need to mention that my involvement in USSA is not about controlling or oppressing others. It’s all about making my little contributions to ensure that students have a more favourable learning environment.
“The idea of purchasing books for the senior students of USSA originated from the conversation that Professor Francis Fasanu and I had with Mrs. Abisoye. After that conversation, Professor Fasanu and I decided that we should share the cost of buying books for the students equally. Today, we are delivering about 50 per cent of the books that we bought together. By the special grace of God, another 50 per cent is on the way.”
While hinting that the book donation project cost about N1.5 million, he noted that the Old Students Association spent a total of N15 million in 2022 on infrastructural projects and a sum of N4 million in 2023 on similar initiatives.
Professor Francis Fasanu, in his address, charged the SS3 students to leverage the availability of the textbooks in preparation for their SSCE, adding that the old students will be willing to make more donations if the learning materials are properly managed.
The Principal of the school, Mr. Kamal Adio, who expressed his appreciation for the donation, described it as the first of its kind and also assured that the books and writing materials would be evenly distributed and judiciously used.
While highlighting some other donations made by the alumni, he also pointed out that the Oyo State government is in support of the initiative.
The President of the USSA Old Students Association, Pastor Olawale Peluola, pledged the association’s commitment to making sure the students actualize their destinies and potential “and to make sure that their future is better and better even than ours.”.
Meanwhile, the coordinator for the 1986 set, Comrade Taiwo Salawu, and the secretary, Dr. Waheed Ismail, emphasised the importance of working together to bring about the accelerated development of USSA.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, the head boy and head girl, Joshua Kilanko and Abibat Okesanya expressed gratitude to the old students for the resuscitation of dilapidated facilities in the school and the recent donation of notebooks, textbooks, and writing materials. They also promised to make the donors proud by performing excellently in their SSCE.
The highlight of the event is the launch of a N500,000 programme that will award three subject teachers with outstanding performance in WAEC and a support programme of about N1 million to eligible students to pay for the cost of registering for the next NECO exam.
