Following WITHIN NIGERIA’s report, a 14-year-old boy identified as Maxwell Olatunji who dropped out of school at age 11 due to his parents’ inability to pay for his tuition, has been awarded a full scholarship package by Hon. Taiwo Adeyekun, the caretaker chairman of Oriade Local Government.
It was reported on Sunday, October 8, that a 14-year-old school dropout trekked from Ijebu-Ijesa to Ilesa with his siblings to show media outlets his artistic creations in his quest for survival.
The caretaker chairman of Oriade Local Government, Hon. Taiwo Adeyekun, also known as Agba, got in touch with this reporter a few hours after WITHIN NIGERIA’s report went viral. He asked that the 14-year-old school dropout and his parents be taken to the council secretariat.
Adeyekun, the caretaker chairman, approved a full scholarship package for the 14-year-old boy during the meeting. He was admitted into the Department of Fabrication and Welding at Government Technical College, Ijeda-Ijesa.
In addition to purchasing the boy’s two school uniforms, the caretaker chairman Adeyekun also purchased mathematical sets, twelve textbooks for higher education, school bags, shoes, and textbooks including New General Mathematics Book I, New Concept English Book I, and Essentials Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
The caretaker chairman promised a monthly monetary reward, but he also purchased a box of electrodes, binding wires, pinches, pliers, goggle, handsaw, and red saw—all necessary tools for practicals.
Adeyekun said that he was heartbroken when his parents could not afford public education and that education is a right for every Nigerian citizen while speaking to reporters at the handling over of writing materials and tools to the beneficiary.
“I too am a father.” I am a parent. I’m always happy to lend a hand when I see kids that want to go to school but are unable to because of financial difficulties. The chairman continued, “I have been helping children before I was appointed as Oriade caretaker chairman, and I am glad and extremely happy that I now have the privileges to do more.”
Adeyekun asked parents to emphasize their children’s education and take greater care of their wards while lamenting the rate at which kids are dropping out of school.
His creative ability, scholarly enthusiasm, and will to learn motivated me to award the full scholarship. He said that the council will keep providing assistance to individuals in need while staying within its means.
The beneficiary’s father, Mr. Olatunji, expressed gratitude to the council chairman for his nice gesture, generosity, and the wonderful opportunity he had provided for his child.
There will be close supervision over him. I’ll see to it that he completes his assignments and reads his book. The father continued, “I really want to thank you so much for this wonderful help and we will always appreciate it.”