Four Rotary clubs in Ibadan, Oyo State, have donated school items to over 100 pupils of St Patrick Primary School, Mokola, Ibadan, as part of efforts to support basic education and give back to society.
The clubs involved in the initiative are Rotary Club of Ibadan Ologuneru, Rotary Club of Ibadan Gold, Rotary Club of Ibadan Prestige and Rotary Club of Ibadan Ring Road.
The items donated to the pupils included school bags, exercise books, ducks and water bottles.
Speaking during the presentation, President of Rotary Club of Ibadan Prestige, Rotarian Bankole Oyewole, said the initiative was organised in line with Rotary International’s designation of September as Basic Education and Literacy Month.
Oyewole said the clubs decided to come together to support the pupils and contribute to improving their learning experience.
He said, “September is designated by Rotary International as Basic Education and Literacy Month. That is why we decided to come together as clubs to carry out this project and support the children.
“We believe that education is very important, and we want to encourage these pupils by providing some of the basic materials they need to remain in school and learn effectively.
“We also want this gesture to go beyond today. We hope to come back and continue supporting the school, particularly in areas where we can make a meaningful difference.”
Also speaking, President of Rotary Club of Ibadan Gold, Rotarian Tracey Oloyede, said the donation was part of the club’s commitment to supporting children and promoting education within the community.
Oloyede said the initiative was aimed at putting smiles on the faces of the pupils while helping to reduce some of the challenges they may face in accessing basic learning materials.
She said, “We are happy to be here and to be able to support these children. As Rotarians, we believe that giving back to the community is one of the ways we can make a positive impact.
“We chose to support the pupils with basic school items because these are things they need every day in school. We hope that this will encourage them to take their education seriously and also motivate others to support education in their communities.”
She added that the Rotary clubs would continue to identify areas where they could collaborate to support schools and young people in Ibadan.
President of Rotary Club of Ibadan Ologuneru, Rotarian Adewale Akinade, said the initiative demonstrated Rotary’s commitment to supporting children and strengthening basic education in the community.
Akinade said, “We are delighted to be part of this initiative because education remains one of the important ways of giving children a better future. These materials may appear simple, but they can make a meaningful difference in the daily lives of the pupils.
Similarly, President of Rotary Club of Ibadan Ring Road, Rotarian Mojisola Omoyele, said the collaboration was aimed at complementing the efforts of parents and teachers in providing the basic materials needed by the pupils.
Omoyele said, “Our coming together is about giving back to the society and making a positive difference in the lives of these children. We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to learn in a conducive environment with the basic materials required for education.
“We are happy to see the excitement on the faces of the pupils, and we hope this gesture will encourage them to value their education. Rotary will continue to support initiatives that promote education, literacy and the wellbeing of children.”
The management of the school applauded the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention that would contribute to the pupils’ academic development and encourage them to take their education more seriously.
The school appreciated the Rotary clubs for identifying with the needs of the pupils and called for more support from individuals, organisations and other stakeholders to improve the learning environment.