National Association of Okun Students has conferred award of excellence on illustrious sons who have contributed positively to growth of education in the area.
Award recipients are Barrister Babatunde Irukera of the Consumer Protection Council of Nigeria, Elder Leke Abejide, Hon. T.J Yusuf, the Member Representing Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal constituency, Alhaji (Dr.) Taofiq Isa the Administrator of Ijumu Local Government who also doubles as the Kogi State ALGON chairman, Hon Asiru Asiwaju Idris, Kogi State Commissioner of finance and Economic Planning
Others are; Hon. Kingsley Femi Fawno, the Director General Media and Publicity to governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state, Hon. M.D Eseyin, the Special Adviser to Kogi State governor on Youth Empowerment, Sports and Students Affairs, Hon. Asiru Abdulrasaaq Ijagbemi, Administrator Yagba East Local government and Hon. Moses Olorunleke, Administrator Kabba-Bunu local government.
According to the national president of National Association of Okun Students (NAOS), Jacob Abraham Damilare, the student association has deemed it necessary to award some of our Okun sons who have contributed directly to education through the Association in reaching out to Okun Students.
“The Association is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the welfare of every member is well catered for and as a way of ensuring that such is attained, the association goes as far as lobbying government, groups and individuals to contribute their own quotas to the development of the association. Hence, rewarding those who have made meaningful impacts to students through the association becomes very important.
“It is to appreciating and further encourage groups and individuals to contribute immensely to the development of the association that these persons have bagged from the association this “Award of Excellence”.
Speaking on the award, the NAOS senate president, Comrade Margaret Olupehin said the recipients were selected regardless of their political affiliation.
“This award is not in any way related to political party or sentiments, it is sorely meant to encourage these persons who have within their own capacities contributed to the association by way of either financing the payment of school fees in forms of scholarships, or by way of helping our association access links to helping hands both within or outside the state.
“This is not to say that there are no other individuals that have made applaudable contributions to the association but such contributions should be made directly through the association as a way of being aware and further applaud such gestures.
“Barrister Irukera singlehandedly gave a scholarship to the tune of three hundred thousand naira (300,000.00) to one of our Okun students, a first class graduate who gained admitted into the Nigerian Law School. Elder Leke Abejide gave a scholarship to a tune of forty million Naira (40,000.000.00) to register thousands of students for West Africa Examination Council in Yagba Federal Constituency. Hon. T.J Yusuf created an avenue for a “back to school” summer lessons for Students in Okun land where he gave out scholarships to best students in various categories same way as he facilitated the building of blocks of class rooms in Kabba-Bunu local government.
“Alhaji (Dr.) Taofiq Isa made a single contribution of three hundred Thousand Naira (300,000.00) to support the association’s Annual Miss Okun Beauty Pageant outside other ways he has given out scholarships to so many Okun students. Hon. Idris Asiru Asiwaju has also given scholarship to five Okun Students in Kogi state University to a tune of two hundred and fifty thousand naira (250,000.00) not excluding how he has been supportive to the association. Hon. Kingsley Femi Fanwo has given scholarship to a tune of five hundred thousand naira (500,000.00) through his Annual Mama Titilayo Fanwo Quiz and Essay writing Competition amongst other school fees he has paid for some Okun students.
“Hon. Asiru Ijagbemi Abdulrasaq singlehandedly ensured we had a serene and security guaranteed environment devoid of chaos during our Miss Okun Pageant at his territory Yagba East Local government where we also enjoyed a free hall with enough electricity supply till dawn all courtesy of him. Hon. Moses Olorunleke of Kabba Bunu has also in the period of the immediate past administration sponsored the payment of JAMB fees of large numbers of Okun students who as at today are students in various institutions. Hon MD Eseyin has used his office to ensure the association is mobile as a way of facilitating the Bus the association is currently using today. This he did helped us achieved from the state government. Today, the association is no longer faced with the challenge of mobility. This was judiciously approved to us and it is of course in safe hands. Despite all the internal crisis in the association, the Special Adviser refused to recommend proscription of the association even though it was within his powers to do so. These and many more gestures must be appreciated.
“We understand that there are many Okun sons and daughters who must have been making contributions to Okun students but we apologize if we fail to recognize you all. We enjoin all to kindly make a direct link with the association so that we will keep record and further applaud your good gestures. Do not forget that students will always remain grateful to you all.
“These persons have bagged our award of excellence because they have partnered directly with the association and as such must be recognised. We therefore encourage everyone to partner directly with the association as a way of ensuring that students do not cheat them in any way. Records are kept by our association and we ensure transparency is made available.
“Once again, this choice of the association to reward these persons is open to constructive criticisms as a way of knowing whether they deserve it or not.” he said.
