No fewer than 5,000 indigent pupils from remote communities in Oyo State have benefited from the recently launched Federal Government BAT-STEM initiative.
The three-day educational outreach programme, organised by the Presidential Community Engagement Office (South-West), is part of the Federal Government’s BAT-STEM project, which includes scholarships, training, education, and mentorship.
According to a statement made available to The PUNCH on Wednesday, the initiative is led by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South-West), Moremi Ojudu.
The team, the statement said, visited several schools where they distributed over 50,000 exercise books, 1,000 school bags, 100 white marker boards, sandals, socks, mathematical sets, and other learning materials.
According to the statement, some of the schools visited were Nomadic School, Owode, Lanlate; St. Michael Cherubim & Seraphim Primary School, Eruwa; Anwar-ul-Islam Primary School, Eruwa; and Baptist Primary School, Maya, Lanlate.
During their visit to the Eruwa Special Basic School, the team donated back-to-school items to physically challenged pupils, who expressed their gratitude with excitement.
“We never expected to receive such attention. It is a most welcome initiative. These supplies will greatly help our kids learn better and aid our teachers. This is an exceptional gesture, and we hope it continues,” said the headmistress of the school.
Other schools in Oriire and Ogo-Oluwa local government areas, including Tewure Grammar School, Tewure; Ajinapa Community Grammar School, Ajinapa; and Oloya Community Primary School, Oloya, also received back-to-school items and scholarships.
Community High School, Iwo Ate, and Baptist Grammar School, Ajaawa, were also among the schools that benefited from scholarship awards.
One of the scholarship recipients from Baptist Grammar School expressed his gratitude, saying, “This scholarship is a blessing. It has given me hope for a brighter future.”
Another scholarship recipient from Baptist Grammar School, Ajaawa, shared his relief: “My parents were worried about how they could cope with my education due to financial challenges, but with this scholarship, I can now focus on my studies without fear and proceed to pay for my school certificate examinations.”
Principals and teachers from the beneficiary schools expressed their deep appreciation.
“These supplies and scholarships are a lifeline for many of our students. For some, this is the difference between staying in school and dropping out,” said the Principal of Tewure Grammar School.
The Principal of Ajinapa Community Grammar School, Ajinapa, added, “We are grateful for the instructional materials provided to our teachers, which will greatly enhance our ability to teach more effectively.”
“Beyond instructional materials and scholarships, the outreach team also distributed food items to teachers and community members, further extending the support of the initiative beyond education.
“The programme awarded 100 scholarships worth N50,000 each to select students, providing much-needed financial relief for the beneficiaries to pay for upcoming examinations and remain in school.
“The BAT-STEM project aims to close educational gaps in underserved communities while equipping teachers with the necessary tools to create better learning environments,” the statement added.
