EKO NEWS

Number Of Out School Children Troubling, Nigerians Suffering – Babajide Otitoloju

Published

4 years ago

May 2, 2021.

Afolabi Hakim

Such Acts Would Depopulate Nigeria Out of School Children – Babajide Otitoloju.

By Babatunde Kaka

Nigeria’s veteran and ace broadcaster, Babajide Otitoloju has bemoaned the dispiriting state of the nation, saying the situation of things, especially as it regards the government handling of the economy and education, as further impoverished the masses.

Otitoloju, the co-host of a popular discussion programme on Television Continental (TVC), journalists hangout, said people who are well-off should not hesitate to help the needy and poor in whichever way they can.

The Celebrant, Hon Shamsideen Adekunle Adeniyi

The journalist spoke at Hon Adeniyi’s Indigent Schoolchildren Adoption Project held in Eredo, Epe.

Otitoloju, who lauded the initiative, said the project, would significantly reduce Nigeria’s out of school children.

He noted that the project would serve as a buffer for the teeming parents and families who were grappling with dire financial strait and were finding it add to help actualise the educational aspiration of their children.

” He has chosen to bless school kids with the way he has done, there are many families that need to be supported in our society, many of them can’t even pay examination fees for their children, they can’t afford to buy the JAMB form. People are going through a lot in our country, so, we need as many people as possible who has been blessed by God to show kindness, to offer hope and this is what I see that Hon. Adeniyi has done”, Otitoloju said in an interview with Ekohotblog.

The children, he said, would return home happy in such a way that the gesture would make a timeless impression in their lives. He lamented the huge number of adults and children who would have been able to complete their education if they had such support extended by Hon Adeniyi.

” Some were born into polygamous families and their parents couldn’t afford to pay their school fees, so, some of them dropped out of school but we need people of means to help us lift children of the indigents in our society so that their goal for achieving qualitative education would be realised. This is what I see he has done that I am particularly greatly about”, he averred.

The celebrant, wife and ace journalist, Mr Babajide Otitoloju presenting school materials to a beneficiary.

The Out-of-School syndrome in Nigeria, he said, is a menace. He revealed that about 13.5 million children are out of school five years ago. He opined that due to worsening poverty and insecurity in recent times, the figure must have escalated. He thereafter charged Nigerians that the more families they lifted out of poverty, such acts would enable Nigerians to depopulate the out-of-school children in the Nation.

Also speaking on the sideline of the event held in Eredo, Epe, while congratulating the celebrant on his 50th birthday alongside her wife, Doja Adeniyi, the Alara of Ilara kingdom, Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, commended the couple for the project.

” I also want to commend them for this laudable project for adopting 50 school children. For him to have taken it upon himself to assist in the education of our young children, particularly from Eredo LCDA is a thing of joy. I want to implore good-minded people in Eredo LCDA to rally around and support. Many people want to do this kind of thing but they don’t know how to go about it. If someone can take it upon himself or herself to be rendering this kind of service to the society without any sinister motive but out of his free will, I believe it should be encouraged”, Alara stated.

Oba Ogunfolarin further stated that since educating children, training them on vocational skills and securing a job for them has been brought to the fore, it is pertinent to support the initiative to ensure that children, the future generation, take over.

The Alara of Ilara Kingdom, Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo

The Group Managing Director of Procare Hotels and Suites, Prince Segun Osifeko also lauded the celebrant, describing him as a good brother and community man per excellence. He said this in an interview with Ekohotblog.

” He’s been a shining star right from the secondary school and I can not but admonish him to keep the good works. He has become a role model, he should continue to make giant strides and I see him up here in no distant time. I wish him the best of luck, he should not relent, we’re proud of him and we want him to be where he truly belongs”, he stated.