The Ogun State government has commended BIC, a world-leading manufacturer of stationery material and writing tools, for donating 50,000 writing tools to public school students in the state ahead of their resumption in September for a new academic session.
The state’s Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, gave the commendation in Abeokuta, the state capital, when the company presented those tools to the ministry.
He said the gesture underscored the importance of corporate organisations partnering with the state government in advancing learning and education generally.
According to the commissioner, the Ogun State government sees this collaboration with BIC as a positive beginning, and it will serve as a significant encouragement to us.
He added, “We value the collaboration because we understand that no government anywhere globally can do the work all alone or solely fund education.
“That is why we seek the support of alumni, corporate partners like BIC, and other philanthropists to complement the government’s efforts.
“It’s through such joint efforts that we will all achieve the great results we aspire to.”
While highlighting the success of Ogun State students in national and sub-national competitions, showcasing the state’s progress in education, Arigbabu urged other corporate bodies, individuals, and groups to take a cue from BIC.
In his remarks at the event, the Business Development Lead at BIC Nigeria, Mr Adeyemi Ojo, said the company donated the writing tools, biros, to aid students’ writing and learning.
He said the donation was part of the company’s social intervention initiatives on education, noting that similar support was extended to the Lagos State students earlier in the year.
Emphasising the importance of sufficient resources to the success of a student’s learning journey, Adeyemi, in a statement, said, “BIC, as a manufacturer of stationery material and writing tools, it is our responsibility to support learners with the necessary writing tools that will enhance their studies.
“We believe that the availability of resources is one of the main factors that helps keep students in school and also prevents dropouts.
“So, we are very committed to supporting the communities in which we operate as well as today’s learners, who are the future of our nation.
Adeyemi mentioned that BIC adopts a holistic approach to education in Africa, and Nigeria specifically.
He said the company achieves this through several initiatives, such as equipping classrooms with the necessary writing and stationery tools, refurbishment of facilities to create inspiring learning environments, organising youth’s creativity programmes, including the Art Master Africa competition, internships, and promotion of entrepreneurial skills amongst students as they enter the professional world.
The high point of the event was the presentation of two standout students from the state to the audience.
They are Sarah Adelakun, a junior secondary school female student of Ebenezer Grammar School, Abeokuta, and Master Ayodele Babalola from Christ Apostolic Grammar School, Iperu Remo.
While Sarah recently won the second-place prize in the National Anchor Competition held in Abuja, Ayodele participated in a state-sponsored technology training program where he showcased a prototype ATM machine that he personally designed.
Both students, on behalf of their peers, in turn, thanked the state government and BIC for their support.
They said the writing tools would certainly enhance their learning as they are preparing for resumption.
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