By John Dike, Osogbo
The Funmilayo Bamidele Oke Memorial Foundation (FBOMF) has donated branded school bags to pupils in Akiriboto 1 and Bembe communities, located in Ayedaade Local Government Area of Osun State.
Leading the team was FBOMF Chairperson, Hon. Taiwo Oluga, represented by Barr. Adenitan Akinola, Secretary to the Board of Trustees. They were joined by community leader, Hon. Abiona Femi.
Delivering the Chairperson’s address, Barr. Akinola stressed the importance of accessible education for every child, noting that the responsibility of educating Nigeria’s children cannot be left to government alone.
“This gesture is not politically motivated. It is a core part of FBOMF’s mission to ease the burden on parents, motivate children in rural areas to attend school, and support the development of a strong future workforce for our nation,” said Hon. Oluga.
She warned against the continued neglect of rural education, describing it as “not just an education crisis but a generational tragedy.” She emphasized that children in villages deserve the same opportunities as those in urban private schools, especially when they’re expected to take the same national exams such as WAEC and JAMB.
Hon. Oluga urged the pupils to take their studies seriously and attend school regularly.
“I’ve been informed that many of you skip school for farm work. Let me advise you: education is your pathway to economic freedom and a better future,” she added.
At St. Peter’s Primary School in Akiriboto 1, the Olu of Akiriboto, Oba Amusa Ajibade, expressed appreciation to FBOMF and Hon. Oluga for choosing the community for the intervention.
“Our children really need these bags. They no longer have to carry books with bare hands,” the monarch said.
He also appealed to the state government to deploy more teachers to rural schools and ensure better supervision to improve attendance and learning outcomes.
The school’s headteacher, Mrs. Olasupo Funmilola, thanked the foundation for the support, while one of the beneficiaries, Miss Adigun Rokibat, said the bag would make going to school easier for her.
The second event held at District Council Primary School, Bembe, drew similar commendations. The PTA Chairman, Mr. Alarape Oladapo, described the donation as a timely intervention that would boost school attendance.
“Such gestures encourage children to come to school,” he noted.
The Chairman of the Students Development Association (SDA), Mr. Oderemi Kazeem, advised pupils to take proper care of the bags and called on the government to build more classrooms to accommodate growing enrollment.
Headteacher Mrs. Remi Adeoye assured that the school would ensure responsible use of the donated bags by the pupils.
The donation was made as the state contends with educational challenges. For instance, although the state’s out-of-school children rate declined from 12.8% in 2011 to 10.5% in 2017, many rural areas still face significant educational barriers, despite Nigeria’s national primary school enrollment rate hovering around 87%.
FBOMF’s outreach highlights the growing role of philanthropy in bridging educational gaps in rural communities, even as calls continue for stronger government investment in public education.
