ABEOKUTA — More than 1,000 students across Ogun Central Senatorial District have benefited from the third edition of Senator Shuaibu Afolabi Salisu’s education empowerment programme, designed to support academic development and promote digital literacy among young people.
The beneficiaries received school bags, exercise books, JAMB past questions, mathematical sets and other educational materials at a well-attended programme held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta.
The senator representing Ogun Central and Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity said the initiative was part of his sustained intervention in the education sector and aimed at reducing the financial burden of educational materials on parents while giving students the tools to excel.
Speaking on the theme, “Investing in Education, Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders,” Salisu reaffirmed his commitment to education, digital literacy and the development of ICT skills among young people.
He said his interventions, which include ICT centres, science laboratories and other educational infrastructure, were driven by his belief that education remained a veritable instrument for empowering young people, transforming families and building a better society.
Salisu, while sharing his personal educational journey, recalled that he was once the first graduate in his family, but that the family now has close to 100 graduates across different professions.
He traced a defining moment in his educational journey to 1980 when, as a student, he represented his school in a quiz and debating programme broadcast by the Nigerian Television Authority.
According to him, his father’s encouragement after watching the programme and his mother’s advice to remain confident in doing what was right strengthened his determination to pursue education.
Salisu said his career journey took him from the private sector and banking, where he worked in four banks in technology and operations, to multinational organisations, before serving as Chief of Staff in Ogun State and eventually becoming a senator.
He explained that his educational interventions were not limited to the provision of physical facilities but were intended to equip students with the knowledge, skills and opportunities required to excel academically and prepare for the future.
He cited the ICT centre provided at Community High School, Oluke, in memory of the late Senator Kole Oyeru, as one of his interventions, adding that other schools had benefited from ICT facilities, science laboratories and related projects.
The senator also mentioned Ishaga Grammar School, Ishaga Orile, whose educational needs, he said, were brought to his attention by Hon. Babatunde Tella.
He urged the beneficiaries to make effective use of the materials and opportunities provided, charging them to become agents of positive transformation in their families and communities.
2026 WASSCE Best Students Receive Laptops
As part of the programme, the best male and female students in the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Ogun Central Senatorial District were honoured with laptops.
The male best student, Ogunlade John Omotolani, a physically challenged SS3 student of St. Peter’s Grammar School, received a laptop for his outstanding academic performance.
The female best student, Busari Kaosarat Aramide, of Community High School, Oluke, also received a laptop for emerging as the best female student in the 2026 WASSCE in the senatorial district.
Other outstanding students, including physically challenged students from St. Peter’s Grammar School and Ansar-deen Grammar School, Ishaga Orile, were also recognised for their academic achievements.
Salisu expressed delight at the performance of the students, particularly those from public and less privileged backgrounds, saying their achievements demonstrated what young people could accomplish when given the right support and opportunities.
The Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, commended Salisu for the initiative, describing the intervention as an investment in the future of the beneficiaries.
Arigbabu urged the students to make proper use of the materials and remain committed to their studies, saying the initiative complemented the state government’s efforts to prioritise education.
The commissioner noted that Salisu had consistently supported initiatives aimed at improving learning among young people, stressing that his interventions had extended to infrastructure, ICT and other educational projects.
He said Ogun State’s efforts in technical and vocational education had attracted the interest of other states seeking to understudy its model.
Arigbabu also said the ministry would be interested in monitoring the academic progress of the beneficiaries to assess the impact of the intervention.
He recalled that Salisu had previously supported outstanding students, including two University of Lagos graduates who recorded a 5.0 GPA and received laptops, noting that one of the beneficiaries subsequently secured a full scholarship.
Oke-Ona Grammar School Emerges Debate Champion
The event also featured a debate competition involving 32 students from 16 secondary schools across Ogun Central Senatorial District on the topic, “The Benefits of A1 in Education Outweigh Its Risks.”
Oke-Ona Grammar School, Abeokuta, emerged winner and received a cash prize of N200,000, while Ebenezer Grammar School came second with N150,000.
United Comprehensive High School, Wasimi, placed third and received N50,000, while Ibusi Comprehensive High School, Ifo, and Lafenwa High School also received N50,000 each.
Senator Salisu reaffirmed his commitment to supporting educational development in Ogun Central, saying his experience had continued to convince him that sustained investment in education remained a major pathway to empowering young people and building a stronger society.
