‘AYFF’s N8.9m WAEC fees scholarship raises Ijesaland indigenes’ hope in education attainment’

Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi  Foundation(AYFF) has committed another N8,9million to pay for the registration of  250 Senior Secondary School Students drawn from all the 70  public secondary schools in Ijesaland  for 2018/19 West African Examination(WAEC) examinations. Last year, not less than 100 students  from different public   schools in  the six Local government areas  in Ijesaland  benefited from the scheme.

At the official  presentation of the cheques held in Ilesa  recently the founder/ chairman of the foundation  announced another annual  N100,000  tertiary education scholarship scheme for 10 best students of the 100 beneficiaries of the last year WAEC education supportive scheme, who secured admission into university, or polytechnic, whether federal, or state institutions.

According to him, the scheme would commence in the first quarter of 2019,saying that the beneficiaries would enjoy the facility annually throughout their academic duration if they maintain excellence.

From all indications, The development has raised the entire people of Ijesaland’s hope in their educational pursuits.

The  sincerity of purpose of  the foundation to its education endowment scheme  and  its  commitment to   youth empowerment  in Osun State informed the songs of praises  dedicated to Chief Fasuyi  from different quarters in the land during the event

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Osun State, Mr Sunday Olajide  affirmed   that Asiwaju Yinka  Fasuyi Foundation( AYFF) education support  Scheme programme  has improved West  Africa  Senior Secondary  Certificate Examination  registration in the state since his commitment to education development in the state  some years ago.

According to the State Ministry of Education, the scheme is    timely assistance and  appreciated  because he said  government needed   the support of the society in the provision of quality education. H              “The state government presented the 250 students, evenly selected from all the public secondary schools in Ijesaland based on their  performances in the last unified examinations conducted for all the  senior secondary schools in the state by the government, for the award  as requested  AYFF management. “ It is therefore heartwarming and encouraging  to find individuals and corporate organisations as  Fasuyi Foundation, deeply committed  to the delivery of functional education in the state,” the state ministry declared.

Admiring the unique gesture of Chief Fasuyi  to the Ijesa communities, Adimula of Iferawara, His Royal Majesty, Oba  Ezekiel  Adeniyi  Owolola and his counterpart from  Esa Oke , Oba Adeyemi  Adediran described Chief Fasuyi as  a  renowned   ambassador of Ijesaland in all ramifications.

According to them, God  specially gave  Chief Fasuyi to the entire Ijesaland and he is an  an ambassador of note to Ijesa land and his impact in the land in terms of financial support and skill developments cut across all the  indigenes.

Speaking in the same vein, the chairman of the occasion, Professor  Oye Ibidapo – Obe,  expressed optimism  that the  contributions   of   Chief Fasuyi  to education and economic advancement process of Ijesaland  would restore the land to its Pre- eminence position of  leaders in education, commerce and other sectors in Nigeria.

He described Chief Fasuyi  as a visionary man  whose way of giving back to the society should be emulated by other distinguished people in the land. “ He has set a pace for others in the society to follow. I want to appeal to each and everyone of us  individually and collectively to  pick and fund one or two  of the areas of needs in our land. My appeal also goes to all the Ijesa indigenes home and abroad to join Chief Fasuyi  in his proposed Ijesa strategic development agenda. Let us come together to develop our emerging children” he said.

Representatives of  All Nigerian Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools,  Osun State,(   ANCOPSS) at the occasion, Comrade Sunday Adepoju from Atakumosa  High School with some other principals Pastor Festus Adagunodo, Ilesa Grammar School and Mr Mayowa Oluropo of Apoti High school, unanimously  declared Chief Fasuyi  as a fellow Nigerian  to be reckoned  with in Ijesaland.

According to them, they found it difficult to believe that there is still  someone like him, who gives  without expecting  any reward in return in this an age  where nothing goes for free, or has no political undertone.

“ The school  principals  have under studied the person of Chief Fishy  and we have discovered that he lives by his name; as a Forthright  in everything he does, addicted to giving, supernaturally gifted, Yoked to give to the poor, and has ability  to inspire others. That is the meaning of Fasuyi   of our  time.

“  His education supportive programmes have been a blessing to our  communities  at large. It is  sad to note that there is poverty in the land and many parents could not  pay their children’s WAEC registration fees in the past years. In view of this, we have been having  high percentage of students dropping out of school for lack of money to register for WAEC  examinations. It is that bad  in this environment.  Right now, there is a school in the community that only  two  students have paid for  2019 WAEC registration fees  out of  50 students in the that school.

“Here is someone  in this country, who  has volunteered to pay for 250 students not from his town alone but,  drawn from all Ijesa land. Moreover,  he  employed Mathematics and English teachers for willing students across the six local government areas  in  IJesaland. This singular effort has increased the academic performance since it started. It is our prayers that God will blessing him and raise more hands to support the education of needy in the land,”  Mr Oluropo said.

His closed friends  Mr Bosun Owoeye(an Engineer)  and honorable Odunayo Ategbero disclosed that Chief Fasuyi’ Philanthropy gesture grew up with him, it  started from his secondary school days. So, by establishing  a foundation of this nature he has just cemented the spirit of giving endowed in him by God.

“  Chief  Fasuyi is developing  future leaders  for this country through his empowerment and scholarship scheme foundation. His scheme is laudable and timely at this austere life. While some rich people are giving money for party and political promotion, Asiwayu is looking at  how every child will further their education. Indeed, Chief Fasuyi is pioneering a course, developing indelible path for economic and education advancement in Osun State, a pace setter for incoming generation to follow. We are praying more of this kind of Asiwaju in this land,” Honorable Odunayo  said.

Some of the parents who spoke with Nigerian Tribune Mrs Oludare Ibikunle,, Mrs Damilola  Faniyi and Mrs  Funmike Ogunjobi, attested to the fact that the emergence of  Yinka Fasuyi foundation has turned   their  lives  around.

According to them, large numbers  of them could not  pay the fees  which they said led many of their children to drop  from  school, despite the fact that some of these are children are brilliant. “So, Having someone to pay for our children it is  a rare privilege which they said they  would not  hold with levity. God will bless Chief Fasuyi the more,” they said

Also acknowledged the good gesture of Chief Fasuyi on the occasion was  Rt-Rev. Samuel Egbebunmi, the Bishop of Ilesa South West Dioceses admitted that the people of Ijesa land should thank God  for a  visionary leader with heart of giving like Fasuyi  in the land.  “WE are praying for people like him who will forester unity in the land.

Chief Yinka Fasuyi, in his  address  confirmed that a total of 350 students had benefited from the  WAEC fees scholarship scheme since it started in 2017.  He reiterated the foundation commitment, as non – governmental, non- political organization, but a social responsibility initiative to empower youth and residents across Ijesaland by providing them with the requisite skills, knowledge  and support needed to live a highly productive life.

He said the foundation increased the  beneficiaries of WAEC  examination fees scholarship  from 100 students last year to 250 students this year  to cover all the  public secondary schools in Ijesaland in response to request from several communities that were left out last year.

He disclosed  further that from 2019 the foundation would introduce tertiary education scholarship scheme where 10 best students of the  100 beneficiaries of 2017/2018 AYFF WAEC examination fee scholarship, who have secured admission into University or polytechnic, be it federal or state, will be given N100,000 annually. “ The money   will continually be made available to those who commit to excellence in their educational pursuits through out their  education programmes.

Some of the beneficiaries of the awards, Miss Mary Ogunjobi from Atakumosa High School  and her counterpart from  Iesa Government High School, Faniyi  Damilola  stated that the Chief Fasuyi foundation gesture would remain indelible in their mind. They also promised to put in   their best in the coming WAEC examination to justify the cost. “ We have learnt how to give back to the  society, as Chief Fasuyi has set the pace for us to follow.