Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has encouraged secondary school students in Ogun State to focus on building good character and exceling academically. He made this statement at the Obasanjo Back-to-School Project, organized by the Youth Development Centre at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta. Obasanjo emphasized that academic brilliance without good character can hinder students' progress and aspirations in life.
The Obasanjo Back-to-School Project, held in conjunction with Providus Unity Bank, provided school bags, notebooks, socks, pens, and other stationery to 100 secondary students selected from six local government areas of Ogun State. The event featured a pep talk, games, and a career talk. Obasanjo, represented by Emeritus Professor Peter Okebukola, urged students to prioritize their studies, develop a habit of reading, and limit their use of smartphones and social media.
Obasanjo advised students not to be discouraged by challenging subjects, but to study harder to overcome them. He emphasized that sound education is the foundation of success and encouraged students to pursue their academic activities with vigor, concentration, and seriousness. According to Obasanjo, character is extremely important, and students should strive to build good character alongside academic brilliance.
The former president shared words of encouragement, urging students not to give up when faced with difficulties. He cited the example of an 80-year-old man who went back to school and earned a PhD, inspiring students to be determined and focused on their goals. Obasanjo also emphasized the importance of reading and exploring various subjects, including biographies, history, and good newspapers.
Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Professor Abayomi Arigbabu, commended the Youth Development Centre for organizing the Back-to-School program to support indigent secondary school students. Arigbabu, represented by a Director in the Ministry, Mrs Bolanle Idowu, encouraged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the support and concentrate on their studies to achieve academic excellence.
The Chairman of the Youth Development Centre, Bisi Kolapo, explained that the event was a maiden edition aimed at providing assistance to indigent secondary school students across the state. The selection of beneficiaries was done in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, and the Centre had trained 500 indigent pupils on computer education. Kolapo assured that the Obasanjo Back-to-School project will be sustained.
The Programmes Manager of the Youth Development Centre, Blessing Omolara, stated that the program was designed to enhance learning among indigent secondary schools in the state. The beneficiaries of the first edition of the Obasanjo Back-to-School Project were selected from public secondary schools in six local government areas. The project aims to ease the financial burden on families with limited resources while encouraging students to remain focused on their education.
Key points
- Obasanjo emphasizes the importance of good character and academic brilliance for students' success.
- The Obasanjo Back-to-School Project provides essential learning materials to 100 indigent secondary students in Ogun State.
- The project aims to promote education and youth empowerment in Ogun State.
