Remi Bisi Adebiyi Love Foundation bolsters education in Ajaawa, gifts scholarships, uniforms, awards best teachers

Remi & Bisi Adebiyi Love Foundation bolsters education in Ajaawa, gifts scholarships, uniforms, awards best teachers

Lanre OKE

Ajaawa, headquarters of Ogo-Oluwa local government area of Oyo state, received a major boost in its education sector Saturday as a foundation, Remi & Bisi Adebiyi Love Foundation (RBALF) awarded scholarships to pupils of primary schools, secondary schools students and undergraduates.

Best students in various subjects, overall best graduating students in primary and secondary schools were offered cash gifts while 100 students received schools uniforms. This is as undergraduates in courses as Engineering, Medicine, Nursing and Law in higher institutions were as well beneficiaries. Also, best male and female teachers in schools got awards of cash prizes as incentives for greater performances and motivate others.

RBALF, a non-governmental organization founded by Pastor Remi Adebiyi, a Lagos- based lawyer, and his wife, Pastor (Mrs) Olabisi Adebiyi, also a lawyer, and which has Pastor Adeyinka Adeyemi as Board Chairman, instituted the programme last December during a Carol service at Baptist Grammar School (BGS), Ajaawa, where he graduated in 1981 as a member of the first set, assuring students and teachers who excelled at different levels will each year enjoy various financial assistance from the foundation.Thus, the event on Saturday was fulfillment of the promise.

“Whatever you become in life is in your hand. … so, we have come here this afternoon , students, not only to launch this scholarship scheme and award of academic ecellence scheme, but we have also come here to tell you that all things are possible for you. If you make up your mind, with God on your side, you will surely make it,” Pastor Adebiyi said in December while highlighting their motivation and plans.

Pastor Mrs. Nike Abosede Okedere, a member of the RBALF board, who represented Adebiyi, a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, at the presentation on Saturday, commending the cleric and his wife, remarked, “When you give people that cannot pay you back directly, it’s praiseworthy and commendable. It is unlike politicians who expect votes in return, this one is done out of their freewill.”

Alajaawa of Ajaawa, Oba Thompson Oyetunji Adeyeye, who was a classmate of Pastor Adebiyi at BGS, Ajaawa, also expressing gratitude called on other indigenes of Ajaawa to emulate the gesture and in fact in all Ogo-Oluwa local government.

“This will encourage our children to progress in their studies because many are brilliant but indigent, they cannot realize their potentials and this draws back our society. So, this is highly laudable. Parents and children, this is a great challenge to excel, and you must also give back to the society in the future when you have the wherewithal. We want this local government to be greater, let’s intensify efforts like these,” Alajaawa, chairman of Ogo Oluwa Local Government Traditional Council remarked, even as he charged the selection team to always maintain fairness.

Chief Imam of Ogo-Oluwa local government Sheikh Yusuf Amuda Ibraheem, praising Pastor Adebiyi recalled how his father used to encourage parents also to put their children in school. The Imam noted, “If all Ajaawa people were like Pastor Remi’s father, Baba Afonja, the community will be a more literate one today. Pastor Adebiyi has only taken after his father on a greater scale, he is replicating his father and reaping what his father did. He doesn’t only do this during last Christmas, he also rendered assistance in term of empowerment to widows and other less-privileged people.”

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Mr. Oyetunde Adewuyi Oyegade, principal of BGS, noted, while thanking the foundation, “They are pushing the boundary of what is possible and setting example for those coming behind. This is a wonderful programme, celebrating and rewarding others’ hardwork and dedication inspire one and others to do more.

The best male teacher awardee, a Mathematics teacher, Mr. Sanusi Basit Adewale, appreciated the organizers while appealing the scope be extended to the other secondary school in Ajaawa, Community High School.

Pastors Remi and Bisi Adebiyi, co-founders of RBALF, during the December 2023 carol at BGS, Ajaawa

Mrs. Janet Mosunmade Adewusi, who won the award of Best Female Teacher, Redeemed Nursery & Primary School, bemoaned the neglect of Yoruba Language and culture, evident, she said, in preference for English Language as a medium of communication at home, and in it not being a criterion for admission into higher institutions, among others, charging that there should be renewed interest in it.

She expressed gratitude to RBALF however calling on greater promotion of Yoruba culture and tradition. She observed, “a programme like this should have featured cultural dance as Yoruba Language as a subject is recognized and we appeal for gifts of beads, various traditional drums like agbamole and so on to further ignite interest in the subject and tradition. With the scholarship being given by the foundation to Yoruba Language undergraduates and reward for best teacher and student in the subject, l now heard many students expressing interest in the subject. May God continue to bless our benefactors.”

Meanwhile, the organizers have informed that application for scholarships for courses in Law, Engineering, Nursing and Medicine at Federal Universities or Polytechnics, is still open till October 31st, 2024. However, they must be ex-students of Baptist Grammar School, Ajaawa.

According to a message to ogbomosoinsightonline.com by Amb. Oluremi Enix, Secretary of the RBALF Board, interested eligible candidates can contact 08030802825 or remibisilovefoundation@gmail.com, for more details.