By Ruth Adebayo
As schools resumed in Kwara State, the wife of the Governor, Prof. Olufolake AbdulRazaq, has through her office (in collaboration with the Sandal Initiative Project, SIP) has distributed school footwears to needy pupils and students from selected public schools in the State.
Prof. AbdulRazaq, said during the symbolic presentation of the footwears in Ilorin that the initiative was designed to ease the burden on parents and guardians in providing school items ahead of the new academic session.
She said that for many children, attending school comes with the daily challenge of blistered feet from worn-out slippers, which often causes discomfort and distraction in class.
The First Lady noted that in some cases, pupils have been forced to make heartbreaking decisions to stay away from school simply because they lacked proper footwear.
According to her, the distribution of footwears symbolized more than comfort. “They symbolize the commitment of the State and the Ajike People Support Centre to ensuring that every child can walk confidently into the classroom, ready to learn”, she said.
Professor AbdulRazaq admonished the students to be hardworking, diligent, and responsible citizens and equally work on their given talents, to earn and make a living.
The Commissioner for Education in the State, Dr Lawal Olohungbebe, said the footwears which were locally made in Ilorin, were part of efforts by the state government to promote local content in Nigeria and in Kwara in particular.
Dr Olohungbebe said that the initiative would sustain attendance and increase enrollment in schools.
“Things as little as school shoes have kept a lot of children away from school, so this initiative is commendable because, we cannot overemphasize what footwears mean to the children of the needy, this is giving the needy what they need.”, he said.
The coordinator of the Sandal Initiative Project (SIP), Mr. Ibrahim Kale Jimoh, spoke passionately about the psychological impact of the donation. and noted that the project was to promote punctuality and reduce low self-esteem among students.
Professor Shehu Raheem Adaramaja, the Chairman of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), also praised the First Lady’s consistent efforts in providing educational materials such as textbooks, exercise books, toys and other educational needs.
Some of the students, Tunmise Oyeniyi and Ayuba Amos who spoke with The Herald’s correspondent expressed gratitude for the gesture, adding that it would cater to their need for befitting footwears for the new school session.
