For Senator Ademola Solomon Olamilekan popularly known as YAYI, the revival of the legacies of Educational Development, Social Development, Infrastructural Development among many others was beyond the confines of Ogun west alone, and transcends beyond the entire Ogun state, an indicator of a detribalised , non -sectional and people oriented leadership.
This in clear terms has reminded us that the labour of our heroes past has never been in vain , looking at the flagship roles played by the late sage , Obafemi Awolowo, sustained by Chief Ladoke Akintola and Sir Adesoji Aderemi when they all presided over the leadership of the defunct western region during the first republic.
Senator Ademola Solomon Olamilekan has not proven that the current Yewa land were part and parcel of the Egbas known as Egbados long time immemorial, and had toe the line of human capital development, social rejuvenation and infrastructure development introduced by the late sage , Chief Obafemi Awolowo of blessed memory.
Chief Awolowo, the former premier of the old western region under the Action Group (AG), was at forefront of the declaration of free and compulsory Education in the region , as well as some level of free healthcare services.
The policy was simultaneously sustained by Chief Ladoke Akintola who succeeded Chief Obafemi Awolowo under the Nigeria National Democratic Party (NNDP) Egbe Demo, and Sir Adesoji Aderemi.
But since the second and third Republic uptill the current dispensation, the policy had been enmeshed in both political and sectional decisions of the leaders that had no direct impact on the ordinary citizens.
Since the grand launch of the maiden scholarship program for the people of Ogun west for about 1,500 beneficiaries in 2023, and the recent one in 2024 increased to 5,000, students of tertiary institutions in the area, had felt the pulse of free Tertiary Education introduced during the old western region genuinely by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, even though , the former was from primary , secondary and tertiary institution’s which Senator Yayi had bridged with the building , provision of furnitures and many other things to schools across Ogun west.
Yayi who promised to sustain the transparent and free Tertiary Education scholarship without any attachments or proxy arrangements provided a platform for the Ogun west perspective students to access during the yearly exercise tagged”yayischolarshipprogram.com.ng”.
The multi billion Naira investment in Education of the citizens of Ogun west will be a veritable tools to sustain the provision of quality Education in the area with the “free status” to encourage continuous learning process of the people of Yewa land.
The program which kick-started with 1,500 beneficiaries in 2023, got an increment of over 200% in 2024 with 5,000 beneficiaries and may likely be jerked up to beyond the current figure in 2025.
Senator Ademola Solomon Olamilekan popularly known as Yayi consistency and generosity has been tested and trusted in the provision of social security, Infrastructural rejuvenation and Educational Development in the previous and current order.
The new template of providing scholarships to citizens of Yewa land will not only encourage continuous learning, but will attract more good hands and brains from the area , that will encourage healthy environment for educational programs and development.
It is obvious that some vulnerable ones in the society may not have opportunity of assessing scholarship in their various field of learning, but with the introduction of free scholarships for tertiary institutions by Senator Ademola Solomon Olamilekan, no doubt the gradual return of the good old days is been witnessed.
*ABUBAKAR YUSUF can be reached on [email protected].
