The Bimbo Adekanmbi Support for Excellence (BASE) movement has begun distributing educational materials to pupils across Oyo State as part of its Back-to-School Education Support Initiative.
The initiative, which began with selected primary schools in Ibadan, aims to ease the financial pressure on parents during the new academic session while encouraging pupils from less-privileged backgrounds to stay focused on their education.
Speaking during the distribution at Efun Community Primary School, Olaogun, along Old Ife Road in Egbeda Local Government Area, the State Coordinator of BASE, Hon. Kolawole Akanmu, said the initiative was inspired by the commitment of the APM governorship candidate, Bimbo Adekanmbi, to education, youth development and support for indigent students.
Akanmu said the programme would be implemented in phases, with more than 40 primary schools across the state expected to benefit from the educational materials.
He said the initiative was designed not only to provide immediate support to families but also to motivate pupils to take their studies seriously.
According to him, education has remained one of Adekanmbi’s major areas of intervention, noting that the APM candidate had, over the years, supported brilliant and indigent students through various educational programmes.
“Education remains one of the top priorities for Bimbo Adekanmbi because education is the bedrock of human and societal development. Over the years, he has supported brilliant and indigent students in the state through various educational programmes,” Akanmu said.
He added that Adekanmbi had supported students with free JAMB forms, scholarships and bursaries, including students who secured admission into tertiary institutions.
“Bimbo Adekanmbi has been giving free JAMB forms to indigent and brilliant students, as well as scholarships to candidates with outstanding scores who gain admission into universities of their choice.
“Many students are currently benefiting from his scholarship programmes at various prestigious Nigerian universities, while some have completed their four- or five-year programmes. He has also supported students at the Sen. Abiola Ajimobi Technical University and has given, and continues to give, bursaries to students,” he said.
Akanmu explained that the BASE initiative was conceived as an extension of the educational support associated with Adekanmbi, particularly to address the immediate needs of pupils and their families at the beginning of a new school session.
“The idea is to ensure that we put up a programme that will relieve the parents of these schoolchildren and serve as palliatives to ease the tension associated with resumption,” he said.
The coordinator disclosed that BASE had already reached pupils at Efun Community Primary School, Olaogun, Egbeda; Community Primary School, Ayekale, Araromi, Ona Ara Local Government Area; and St. Paul Primary School, Aba-Oni, Ido Local Government Area.
He said the exercise would continue in other selected schools across Ibadan, while BASE members in Ogbomoso would commence distribution next week, beginning with Osupa Day School, Ogbomoso.
According to him, the programme will also cover schools in Oyo town, with distribution scheduled to take place on Thursday and Friday this week, starting with St. Andrews Demonstration Primary School, Oyo.
Akanmu said the phased approach was intended to ensure that the support reaches pupils in different parts of the state, adding that the movement remained committed to expanding the initiative to more schools.
The Back-to-School Education Support Initiative is one of the programmes being implemented by BASE, a support movement established around the campaign and public-service agenda of Bimbo Adekanmbi.
