The JADE Educational & Support Foundation, JADE Foundation has launched its first public education outreach, distributing school bags and storybooks to more than 150 pupils in three public primary schools in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The outreach, held at Aanuoluwapo Nursery and Primary School, Community Nursery and Primary School, and Temidire Nursery and Primary School in Oke-Odo, forms part of the Foundation’s mission to promote equality through education by supporting young learners and encouraging academic excellence.
Speaking at the event, the Founder of JADE Foundation, Ibiremi Ibikunle-Ayeni, said the initiative marked the beginning of the Foundation’s broader commitment to expanding educational opportunities for children.
According to her, the Foundation was established to promote equality through education, noting that “an educated society is an informed society, and an informed society births a great nation.”
The Executive Secretary of the Alimosho Local Government Education Authority (LGEA), Dr. Aminat Olawunmi Ige, represented by the Head of School Support Services, Mrs. Fausat Adeniran, commended the Foundation for choosing Alimosho for its maiden outreach, describing the initiative as a valuable contribution to quality education and academic excellence.
Delivering a motivational talk on the theme, “Excellence or Nothing,” the Network Coordinator of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Youth Nigeria, Odulana Oluwatoyin, represented by the Lagos State Coordinating Lead, Farida Awobayo, urged the pupils to pursue excellence in every aspect of life.
“You can be what you want to be. With integrity, hard work and dedication, you can be great,” she said.
As part of the outreach, the Foundation presented 54 school bags to outstanding pupils from Primary One to Primary Six, while 93 pupils received storybooks aimed at promoting a reading culture.
To further strengthen literacy development, the Foundation also donated 10 storybooks each to the libraries of the three beneficiary schools, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to over 150 pupils.
Speaking on behalf of the schools, the Head Teacher of Aanuoluwapo Nursery and Primary School, Mrs. Kehinde Ayeni, expressed appreciation to the Foundation for the gesture.
She said the school bags would help pupils carry their learning materials with pride, while the storybooks would encourage reading, improve literacy and broaden the children’s knowledge and imagination.
Ayeni added that the Foundation’s support would have a lasting positive impact on the pupils and commended its commitment to investing in the future of children through education.
JADE Foundation was established in memory of the Founder’s maternal grandparents, the late Jolade and Adejare Adeogun, whose passion for education inspired the Foundation’s mission.
The outreach was attended by members of the Adeogun family, including Mr. Ibiyinka and Mrs. Atinuke Ibikunle, Mrs. Abimbola Babatunde and Mrs. Seyi John, alongside education stakeholders, teachers and other guests.