2020 World Literacy Day: Ikeja Metro Lions Club donates to schools in Lagos
President, Officers, and members of Ikeja Metro Lions Club posed with teachers and students of Ikeja Senior High School during this year’s World Literacy Day.
Ikeja Metro Lions Club under District 404B2 Nigeria of the Association of International Lions Clubs has donated books of various subjects, school bags, and other teaching materials to students of the Ikeja Junior/Senior High School.
The donations were made on Tuesday in celebration of this year’s World Literacy Day.
Speaking while presenting the items to the Principals of the two schools (Ikeja Junior High School and Ikeja Senior High School) Alhaji Dan Raman Sakiru Safiyu and Mrs. Esther Abimbola Obisesan, the President, Ikeja Metro Lions Club, Lion Evelyn Abosede Fashakin, said the desire for the Club to celebrate World Literacy Day and make donations were borne out of the importance Lions attach to education worldwide.
Lion Evelyn who noted that education is the bedrock and foundation for the growth of any nation, called on the students and the management of the two beneficial schools to make good use of the items donated to them.
Speaking in an interview with our Correspondent at the event, the Zone 6A Chairperson, Lion Lucky John Oriazowan who represented the District 404B2 District Governor, Lion Ademola Adesoye, said Lions as service organization are interested in providing quality life for the people especially the needy and the less privilege in their midst.
He said the donation of text books on various subjects, school bags and other teaching materials to students of the two schools in Ikeja by Ikeja Metro Lions Club, is part of the Clubs’ activities in celebration of this year’s World Literacy Day.
Lion Oriazowan said as Lions they believe that the strength of any nation lies on the quality of its citizens, adding that education plays a vital role in social and economic empowerment of the citizens.
The Zone 6A Chairperson who called on well meaning Nigerians to look inward within their immediate communities and lend a helping hand to the needy and the vulnerable, said this will go a long way in changing the society and making it a better place to live.
He said the reason they are doing what they are doing is because government cannot do it all alone, stating that it is the resolved of Lions all over the world to ensure better life for the people through donations and other humanitarian services.
Earlier in his lecture themed “Impact of COVID-19 on Our Schools’, the Guest speaker, Lion Raphael Akinsurile, identified the effect of COVID-19 on schools to include elongation of school programmes; effect on teachers’ economic-well-being; distortion on academic calendar; among others.
Lion Raphael said though the impact of COVID-19 on the students is enormous, which, according to him, is why online learning was introduced, called on the students not to use COVID-19 as an excuse for not studying but to imbibe the culture of personal learning.
In her remarks, the Principal of Ikeja Senior High School Mrs. Esther Obisesan, stressed the importance of education to the growth of the nation’s economy. “When you educate the youths, you are educating the nation, and when the youths are educated they will be able to contribute their quota positively to the development of the nation.”
While commending the Lions for supporting educational activities aimed at molding the character of the youths, Mrs. Obisesan added that when the youths are educated it helps them to develop a positive mindset which in turns influenced their behaviour and contributions to the society.
In his brief presentation at the event on “Skill Development,” Lion Akindele, who harped on the imperative of skills acquisition and time management, charged the students to always make good use of their time by engaging in profitable activities.
Lion Akindele who defined skill development as ‘expertise’ and as an ‘ability to do something very well,’ called on students to acquire skills on those vocations that they are passionate about which they can do with ease and happiness, which, according to him, will enhance their economic fortune and make them self reliant.
In his vote of thank, the Principal, Ikeja Junior High School, Alhaji Safiyu, thanked the Lions for partnering with the school in celebrating 2020 World Literacy Day, noting that Ikeja Junior/Senior High Schools were lucky to benefit from Lions’ kind gesture.
While describing Lions’ donation to the schools as a contribution to the growth of the future generations, the Principal added that the donation, apart from enhancing the quality of learning, will boost the schools’ ratings in the state.
Responding on behalf of the students of Ikeja Junior High School, Miss Aliu Raheemah, thanked Ikeja Metro Lions Club for their kind gesture and promised that as students, they will make good use of the items donated to them.
