Torrents of accolades poured on the Senator, representing Lagos East Senatorial District at the Nigerian Senate, Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru yesterday as the banker turned politician gave out scholarship to 600 students across his senatorial district.
Governor Babajide Sanwoolu was the first to commend the laudable initiative of the Ikorodu born Senator, describing it as a welcome development.
Represented by his Special Adviser on Education, Hon Tokunbo Wahab at the event, Sanwoolu commended Abiru for investing in the development of human capacity of the youths, stating that, there was nothing more than investments in human capital.
Wahab noted that Lagos East Senatorial District needs to catch up with the other part of the state in the area of educational development, stating that Abiru’s scholarship fund was timely.
He stated that the Lagos State Government has disbursed a whopping 427 million naira to 27,000 students as bursary awards and 493 million naira as scholarship for Lagos youths in the last one year.
He therefore commended Senator Abiru for blazing the trail by complimenting the state government efforts in building the capacity of Lagos youths,through his scholarship award.
Similarly, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Mudashir Obasa has commend Abiru for investing in a noble, legendary and phenomenal educational empowerment programme for the youth.
Obasa spoke through Hon Okanlawon, Chairman House Committee on Education.
He said, ‘Senator Abiru has done well for coming up with the initiative to help the young people in the institutions of learning in Lagos East.This is no surprise as his love and passion for the youth is not in doubt’.
‘Your efforts to expand the frontiers of education in Lagos State is a welcome Development. An educated society is an easier society to be managed and lead’, he added.
Concluding, Obasa noted that, a people or country that jokes with the education of its youth is doing so at its own peril.
Similarly, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Director of Flutterwave and Andela, two major Nigeria’s tech start-ups and resource person at the event commended Senator Abiru for embarking on the progressive methods of politics which is empowering young people intellectually.
He noted that Nigeria had been indexed on crude oil, until now when technology start-ups are beginning to take the centre stage.
He implored stakeholders of Lagos East Senatorial District to support Senator Abiru’s progressive politics of youth empowerment, stating that, Infrastructure may decay, but intellectual empowerment was the only sustainable program.
Other guests who graced the historic event including Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, Senator Seye Ogunlewe, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Bashorun praised Abiru for embarking on such a noble cause.
A total of 600 beneficiaries picked through a rigorous process benefitted from the scholarship endowment fund of Senator Abiru, who disclosed that the initiative was partly in fulfilment of his campaign promises to Lago East youths.
Barely two months ago, in this same auditorium, I delivered a goodwill message via a pre-recorded video to a large audience of youth in the Lagos East Senatorial District in commemoration of the 2021 International Youth Day’.
‘I want to reiterate like I espoused on that day that young people are at the core of our legislative agenda. The minimum we can do as leaders and in fidelity with our social contract with the esteemed constituents who majorly fall within this demography is to provide support for their dreams to have full and maximum expression’
“I want to let you know that I am passionate about ensuring ‘greater good for greater number’.
‘This mantra guides my philosophy and strategy in giving a lease of life to our people as much as is within my power. The tactics to drive home this strategy is encapsulated in the resonating and reassuring ‘DOING GOOD’ drive’.
“One of the major agenda on my social contract with the good people of Lagos East Senatorial District is youth development for global readiness, Abiru stressed.
Speaking on his strategies, Abiru revealed that he was pushing multi dimensional approaches to tackle socio-economic challenges confronting the youth and other members of his constituency.
