In his bid to put smiles on the faces of the children of the downtrodden, the Special Adviser to Oyo State Governor on Culture and Tourism, Hon. Akeem Ademola Ige has offered scholarship to three of the students who recently graduated from an Arabic institute Modirasat Sumuratu Mumin.
The three students; Nafeesat Oyagbemi – a JSS 3 student and Wariz Akeem Olasupo and Fawaz Ajibola Titilope both in JSS 1 were given the scholarship for their secondary school education during the graduation ceremony of the Arabic institute held recently at Odinjo area, Ibadan.
Not only that, the proprietor of the said Quranic institute was also gifted a parcel of land at the popular Elebu area, along Akala expressway, New Garage, Ibadan. The parcel of land was donated on his behalf by one of his allies, Alhaji Taofeek Salami (a.k.a. Osama) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Taofolad Properties, to build his Quranic institute and mosque.
Speaking on the motive behind this gesture, Hon. Ademola Ige, a leading aspirant for the House of Representatives for the Ibadan South East/Ibadan North East Federal constituency during the forthcoming 2023 general elections said he was moved by the plight of these children when he was told that two of them had lost their father while the other beneficiary also lost his mother.
He said that as a parent he has no choice other than to come to the aid of these children by offering them scholarship to continue their education in order to encourage them to acquire western education alongside the knowledge of Quranic they have acquired.
Hon. Ademola Ige who is also the Baameto Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland said Quranic memorization and its understanding were means of instilling the fear of Allah in children to prevent them from committing evils. He, however, revealed that he had to abscond from the Quranic school when he was young for fear of being flogged by the Islamic teacher.
While congratulating the proprietor for establishing an institute aimed at training Muslim children to acquire the knowledge and teachings by the holy Quran as well as Islamic morals, etiquettes and values, Hon. Ademola Ige further disclosed that it was necessary for Muslims to balance islamic education with western education to have the complete fear of God.
He promised the proprietor of his support for the foundation laying of the institute and mosque on the parcel of land donated for him which the proprietor promised to be done before the end of Ramadan fasting.
The guest lecturer, Sheik Quaseem Ajisafe Akilapa called on other well meaning individuals to emulate the spirit of giving as exhibited by hon. Ige, who he said is known for caring for the less privileged for a long time.
The guest lecturer called on the graduands and Muslims in general to positively use the Quran and its teachings for the betterment of the society.
The proprietor of the institute, Sheikh Abdulateef Ajisafe said he was surprised with the gesture of Hon. Ademola Ige and his ally, Alhaji Taofik Salami for the parcel of land gifted to him for the construction of his Arabic institute and mosque.
While appreciating the gestures which he said is very rare among the politicians nowadays, Sheikh Abdulateef stressed that it will go a long way in contributing to the development of his Arabic institute.
