Igbesa Stakeholders Applaud OGFTZ’s Educational Interventions

…Seek More Scholarships, Expansion of China–Nigeria Friendship School

Education stakeholders and community leaders in Igbesa, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, have commended the Ogun–Guangdong Free Trade Zone (OGFTZ) for its investments in educational development, particularly the establishment of the China–Nigeria Friendship Model School, scholarship opportunities and programmes aimed at identifying and nurturing young talents.

The stakeholders, who spoke with journalists during a recent visit to the host communities, said the Zone’s interventions had contributed to improving access to education, supporting academic development and creating opportunities for children and young people.

They, however, called on the OGFTZ management to sustain and expand its educational initiatives to accommodate more beneficiaries across its host communities.

Speaking on the Zone’s contributions, Mr Joseph Ibikunle, Head of Academics and School Services at the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Education Authority, described its educational interventions over the past 15 years as remarkable.

Ibikunle noted that the Zone had consistently supported schools through infrastructure development, the provision of educational materials and scholarship opportunities for deserving students.

According to him, the interventions had helped improve the learning environment and provided additional opportunities for children in the benefiting communities.

“OGFTZ has been contributing to educational development in this community for about 15 years, and its interventions are worthy of commendation. The support in infrastructure, educational materials and scholarships has made a difference in the lives of our learners,” he said.

He expressed appreciation to the management of the Zone, urging it to sustain the initiatives and extend its support to more schools and students.

Also speaking, High Chief Ezekiel Adewumi Durojaiye, the Otunba Amona of Igbesa, identified the establishment of the China–Nigeria Friendship Model School as one of the most significant educational contributions of the Zone to the community.

He observed that the presence of the school and the growing relationship between Igbesa and China had become a notable feature of the community, with some residents and visitors jokingly referring to the town as “China in Nigeria.”

Durojaiye described the school as a welcome development, recalling discussions surrounding its establishment during the visit of the Chinese Consul-General.

He expressed optimism that the institution would continue to expand, particularly through the introduction of secondary and, eventually, tertiary education.

His words “The China–Nigeria Friendship School is one of the remarkable things OGFTZ has brought to Igbesa. Its presence has given the community a unique identity, to the extent that people sometimes jokingly call Igbesa ‘China in Nigeria”

“We would like to see the school expand to the secondary level and, if possible, eventually to the tertiary level. This will give more children in the community the opportunity to benefit from the institution.”

In a similar vein, Chief Ajidagba Jamiu, family head of Ilu Idofin in Igbesa, highlighted the direct impact of the Zone’s educational initiatives on his family, disclosing that four of his children had attended the China–Nigeria Friendship School.

He also revealed that some indigenes of the community had benefited from scholarships sponsored by OGFTZ to study in China, adding that some of the beneficiaries had completed their studies and were now working in their respective professional fields.

While appreciating the Zone for the opportunities, Jamiu appealed for an expansion of the scholarship scheme to accommodate more students.

“Four of my children have attended the China–Nigeria Friendship School, and I have also seen indigenes of this community benefit from scholarships to study in China. Some of them have completed their education and are now working,” he said.

“I want to appeal to the management to increase the number of scholarship opportunities so that more of our children can benefit. Education is a valuable investment, and giving more young people access to it will also benefit the community in the long run.”

The Chairman of the Igbesa Educational Committee, Alhaji Saheed Animashaun, also commended the Zone for its educational and student development programmes, particularly initiatives organised in the host communities over the past three years.

According to him, OGFTZ has maintained a consistent interest in organising activities that promote children’s education, talent development and personal growth.

He identified the annual Children’s Day celebrations, which bring together primary and secondary school pupils, as one of the platforms through which the Zone recognises and encourages young learners.

Animashaun said the Zone had also organised academic, sporting and cultural competitions, including quiz and recitation contests, football, athletics and dancing competitions, to provide students with opportunities to showcase their abilities.

“These programmes give our children the opportunity to demonstrate what they can do beyond the classroom. Through the competitions, we have discovered that our public schools are filled with intelligent, talented and promising pupils,” he said.

He added that the initiatives had helped build students’ confidence, encouraged healthy competition and provided opportunities for young people to discover their talents.

The committee chairman further disclosed that participating students were rewarded with various gifts and prizes, including musical instruments, mowing machines, educational materials and other useful items.

He described the incentives as additional motivation for students to improve their performance and pursue excellence.

Animashaun maintained that investment in education remained a critical contribution to community development, noting that nurturing the intellectual capacity and talents of young people was essential to preparing them for future responsibilities.

He urged OGFTZ to sustain the programmes and explore additional areas of educational support to ensure that more children in the host communities benefit from its interventions.

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