By Dipo Olowookere
Some educational packs including bags, exercise books and pens were on Thursday shared to pupils of Anglican Primary School, Ijede, Ikorodu, Lagos State by Ikeja Electric Plc, Nigeria’s leading electricity distribution company, under its Back to School campaign in line with the company’s Personal Corporate Social Responsibility (PCSR) objectives.
During the visit to the school yesterday, officials of the energy firm said the gesture was done to support the children, who are the leaders of tomorrow.
While addressing the pupils, Business Manager, Ikeja Electric Ikorodu Business Unit, Mr Rotimi Famoroti, said “in line with our Back-To-School programme and as a responsible corporate organisation, we are glad to support the schools by providing the educational materials to them as a way of giving back to community within our network.”
“We encourage you all to put them to good use. We believe these initiatives will make significant impact on the beneficiaries,” he added.
Speaking further he said the DisCo recently trained some youths drawn from the communities under the Youth Empowerment Programme, assuring the community more gestures from Ikeja Electric.
In his remarks, Executive Chairman of Ijede Local Council Development Association (LCDA), Mr Salisu Fatiu Jimoh, described the initiative as commendable, thanking the company for supporting the community.
Mr Jimoh, who was represented by Secretary to Local Government, Mr Olambiwonu Kunle, said, “We appreciate Ikeja Electric for what they are doing here today to support the school and students. We thank everyone that made this programme a success. By the grace of God, we shall continue to grow in strength and increase in leaps and bound.”
Education Secretary, Local Government Education Authority (LGEA), Mr Austen Taiwo Oduloye, while speaking at the occasion, applauded the gestures by Ikeja Electric noting that the Company is doing a great job, saying, “I am bold to say that Ikeja Electric is the leading Disco in Nigeria.
“What they are doing here today is Corporate Social Responsibility which allows people to recognise their good work, appreciate them more and also know your constraints.”
“We appreciate this gesture and we expect the company to do more for other schools too. Immediately these students get home, their counterparts in other schools will ask them how they got these items from Ikeja Electric. And they will expect the company to come to their school as well. We implore your company to put other schools in mind. God bless Ikeja Electric,” he noted.
Also commending the Disco, Head Teacher of the school, Mrs Arubiewe Aminat Olayemi, said, “We deeply appreciate what Ikeja Electric has done for us today. It will have great impact on the lives of these students and as well as their parents. This initiative will motivate other kids outside to also enrol in our school.
According to her, some of them used to have polythene bags to bring their books, pointing out that the donated bags would be very useful for the pupils.
“As Oliver Twist, we look forward to more support from the company, especially looking at the challenges facing the school,” she added.
Excited to receive the gifts, a primary 6 pupil of the school, Mohammed Ramota, said, “I thank Ikeja Electric for giving us these bags and books that we need. It will encourage us to learn and be serious.”
In attendance at the occasion were Supervisor for Education, Ijede LCDA, Hon. Prince Bello Ganiu; Head of Department for Education, Ijede LCDA, Mr. Akamo Hakeem as well other officials from the Ijede LCDA and teachers from the school.
Adedapo Adesanya