By Jamiu Ganiyu
A member of the Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Tunde Lekan Olatunji, representing Ife North State Constituency, has adopted one Kamarudeen Ridwan, an SS3 pupil of Ataoja High School, who scored 319 in the just concluded 2019 UTME exercise.
The cerebral parliamentarian who was in the school to celebrate and remember a birthday mate, Dapchi School Girl, Leah Sharibu, who is currently being held in the captive of Boko Haram for two years.
While celebrating Leah Sharibu, the principal of the school, Dr. (Mrs) Taiwo Temilade Adeagbo, shared the story of Kamarudeen Ridwan, an extraordinarily brilliant SS3 student, who scored 319 in the just concluded UTME, had distinctions in WAEC GCE and aspiring to study medicine at the University of Ibadan but has no financial backing. Ridwan who is from a humble background, has a bricklayer father and a mother who sells fufu, a locally made food product from cassava.
Moved by his story, the legislator directed the Principal to call the young lad and after a brief interaction, he pledged to sponsor his University education.
While speaking with newsmen, the principal of the school, Dr. Taiwo, expressed her gratitude to Almighty Allah for making her intention on the boy to see the reality of the day. In her words, she said “just yesterday, I called Ridwan and asked him his performance in UTME and he told me, he scored 319. I assured him that I will reach out to Old Students Association and the Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi for assistance on his matter. I am so happy, this just came miraculously.” she concluded.
On why he embarked on such philanthropic gesture, the Ife North State constituency legislator said the world has moved to a knowledge-based economy and there is serious need by stakeholders in Nigeria including privilege individuals in the society to also key into it so that Nigeria would not be left behind.
The beneficiary of the scholarship thanked Hon. Olatunji for touching his life and promised not to disappoint him and his school principal, Mrs. Taiwo, who has gone extra mile to let him see the limelight.