IJESA HONOUR THEIR N50M PLEDGE ON 250 STUDENTS SCHOLARSHIP TO FSTC ILESA

The old adage  “he who opens the school doors, closes a prison”  probably necessitated the intervention of Ijesa Development Council to bankroll enrollment of 250  students at the Federal Science and Technology College, Ilesa .

This gesture is no doubt one of the  several concerted and collaborative efforts of some selfless, foresighted sons and daughters of Ijesaland to sustain the legacy of  unbeaten track records of her progenitors in the education, banking, judicial, political, financial and social sectors to mention a few.

According to the prestigious Harvard University, Technology is the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry. Technology is a tool that can be used to solve real-world problems. The field of Science, Technology, and Society (STS) “seeks to promote cross-disciplinary integration, civic engagement, and critical thinking” of concepts in the worlds of science and technology .

To achieve the lofty and well thought-out plan, aimed at leveraging on the achievements of their forefathers in the education sector as spelt out by Harvard, leadership of Ijesaland Development Council made a clarion call to the illustrious sons and daughters of the land both at home and in diaspora to contribute 50 million naira to secure admission and full board accommodation for indigent students of Ijesa descent at Ilesa FSTC.

The first tranche of N50,000,000 ( Fifty Million Naira) to pay for the first year of a 3-year course of 250 Students of Ijesa extraction was  donated by the 75 kindhearted, compassionate, benevolent, inspiring Ijesa heroes.

The chairman FSTC Scholarship Management Committee (FSMC), Asiwaju of Ijesaland, Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi in a statement made available to tumexhaastrup reads

 “Though a research is yet to be done on this but my instinct tells me that there's no ethnic group in the world more honourable than the Ijesas! Loads of evidence! Just beckon  on Ijesa Development Agenda, and in droves come their unparalleled and unmatched sacrifice of always wanting to support a better Ijesaland. In less than 2 months, a clarion call went out to salvage the future of our young ones for a more promising tomorrow. And within a twinkle of an eye, pledges came from all over our illustrious Sons and Daughters of Ijesaland both at home and in the diaspora, and today we have the first tranche of N50,000,000 ( Fifty Million Naira) to pay for the first year of a 3-year course of 250 Students of Ijesaland origin donated by the 75 kindhearted, compassionate, benevolent, inspiring Ijesa heroes!”.

According to Asiwaju Fasuyi, the 75 IJESA heroes are made up of 57 regular philanthropists and 18 new ones who damned the current unsmiling, biting, harsh and worrisome global economic situation  to joyfully sacrifice for the blossom future of children in Ijesaland through their  financial commitments to the scholarship scheme. 

In a full throated appreciation ,  the Asiwaju of Ijesaland said only God can reward the heroes and their household for Their love to humanity and Ijesaland.

“Kudos to the Community Societies; Royal Father; Professors; Engineers; Jurist; Doctors; Lawyers; Banker;  Consultants; Business Monguls; Prince & Princess; Technocrats; Oil & Gas; Media Practitioner; Chiefs; and all other renowned Professionals in Ijesaland who have made this support possible for our children in Ijesaland. 

May all the beneficiary students live and grow to take Ijesaland to a far greater heights than now IJMN! And may the Almighty God continue to bless and prosper all the Sponsors with good health, prosperous economy, and continued fulfilment of ALL their respective hearts including witnessing the graduation of these 250 Students in a three years' time”. He said.

ADDENDUM

Meanwhile, A milestone was recorded at Federal Science and Technical College (FSTC), Ilesa on Tuesday, 1st August 2023 when the College that hitherto had less than 100 Students of Ijesa origin out of Students population of 1,400, now shortlisted and interviewed 291 candidates who passed the entrance examination attended by 630 candidates on Saturday, 15th July 2023 with a view to selecting a total of 250 Students for admission into the academic session starting in September 2023.

The interview exercise  had all the Parents and Guardians in attendance. 

Ijesa Community Development Assembly (ICDA) led by its Chairman, Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi; Prince Lowo Adebiyi; Mr Akinloye Ajayi-Obe; Chief Afolabi Igbaroola along with the Management of the FSTC led by the Principal & Director, Dr (Mrs) Akinbamijo; Vice Principal Academic 1, Mr Olajolo; Vice Principal Academic 11, Mrs Eniolorunda; Vice Principal Students Affairs, Mrs Taiwo; Vice Principal Special Duties, Mr Aladejobi held a meeting with the Parents and Guardians of the shortlisted candidates to admonish their children/wards to be of good conduct and take their academics seriously as any student found to be engaged in antisocial behaviour will be sanctioned by the school and those students who failed in their promotional exams within the 3-year course will have his/her remainder scholarship cancelled. 

Immediately after the meeting with the Parents, the interview session started with the following attendance from each of the six LGAs in Ijesaland:

1. Ilesa West:    109

2. Ilesa East  : 65

3. Atakumosa West: 35

4. Atakumosa East: 27

5. Obokun  : 20

6. Oriade   : 35

TOTAL      : 291

The interview exercise which had four panels, running concurrently, was very thorough and engaging ended at 7.52pm.

The Ijesa Community Development Assembly (ICDA) members namely, Prince Lowo Adebiyi and Mr Akinloye Ajayi-Obe were part of the panels whilst two Consultants from the faculty of Ibadan Business School, Ibadan were also invited by Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi to complement the interview panels. 

The Asiwaju of Ijesaland, Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi and the School Principal, Dr(Mrs) Akinbamijo jointly provided the overall supervision.

A total of 250 Students will be admitted from this exercise representing the amount that will be sponsored by Ijesa Stakeholders under the auspices of Ijesa Community Development Assembly (ICDA).