Alara Calls For Synergised Investment In Qualitative Education In Epe

By Babatunde Kaka

“We are Providing a Well-Equipped ICT Centre” – Mrs Odunsin, Eridan Group Convener.

The Alara of Ilara Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba Dr Olukayode Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, has appealed to well-meaning indigenes of Ilara and Epe Division at home and in the diaspora to pool efforts and resources in revamping and ameliorating the educational standard of their various communities.

Oba Ogunsanwo made the call on Wednesday, November 3, 2021 during his remarks at the prestigious St Augustine University Ilara, AUI, during the maiden edition of a twin extra-curricular event tagged “Epe Innovation Challenge” and “Epe Spells 2021.”

During his address, Alara applauded the convener of the event, Mrs Odunsin and her team for staging the program in Ilara. According to him, the event would go a long way in helping students harness the enduring possibilities of technology and digitalisation in the education sector.

Dignitaries present at the cognitive and psychomotor-based event include the Chairman of the occasion, Mr Wole Awe; The convener of Eridan Group’s spouse, Mr Toye Odunsin; Dr Lekan Sowande; General Manager, Oluwalogbon Motors Ltd, Mr Oladele Ogunsipe and the Director of Entrepreneurship, Augustine University, Ilara, Ep. Others are the Co-Founder of Eridan Group, Mr Jesudamilare (Ennovate Lab), the Olowa of Ilara kingdom, High Chief Talabi Olatunji Oyebola (JP) amongst others.

Addressing the gathering, the convener of Eridan Group, Mrs Remi Odunsin, disclosed that the event was designed to enhance qualitative education in Epe Division, drawing inspiration from Spelling Bee competitions organised by the New Era Foundation in Lagos State schools.

“The innovation Challenge was organised to encourage Nigerian Youth to become problem-solvers and thereby find lasting solutions to various challenges facing the country. We felt it’s time to start proffering solutions to our problems by ourselves and this start with these students. The Epe Spell is targeted at developing the cognitive abilities of the children,” she said.

She further stated that the group is alarmed by the rate of out-of-school children in Nigeria and would work tirelessly to ensure that every child in Epe Division enjoys his right to qualitative education.

“Apart from this Innovation Challenge and Spelling Competition, we are going to provide an E-Learning Centre For Epe which will be beneficial to all Epe Division. We are providing a well-equipped ICT Centre, where a different system of education will be given that is quite different from classroom-type of teaching and learning,” she added.

Mrs Odunsin also commended the Lagos State Ministry of Education for its decision to provide Curriculum Applications for students in the State, noting that the education benchmark in the state would be raised significantly.

As gathered by Eko Hot Blog, the Innovation Challenge, which had participants from notable schools, was won by Iskanulhaq Comprehensive College, while El-Bossa College and Tesmoh College emerged as the 1st and 2nd Runners-up respectively. The triumphant school was awarded a cash prize of NGN250,000, with the 1st and 2nd Runners up carting home NGN200,000 and NGN150,000 respectively.

The Spelling Bee recorded 25 participating schools from both Private and Public schools in Epe Division. Vivid Mind College (School 1) won the cash prize of NGN50,000, while Agbowa Community Junior Grammar School and Scholars International College emerged as 1st Runners up for garnering 9 points each and were presented with NGN25,000 each.