In a significant boost for education in Lagos State, the Ajayi Foundation has provided scholarship awards to a select group of students from Femi Gbajabiamila Junior and Senior Secondary School. The ceremony, which took place on 26 December 2025, was held at the school hall in the Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Area.
A Ceremony of Hope and Recognition
The event drew a crowd of enthusiastic students, proud teachers, school administrators, and local council representatives. The highlight was the presentation of dummy cheques to the fortunate beneficiaries, a moment met with resounding applause from their peers. This gesture underscores the foundation's core mission: to alleviate the financial pressures of education for students from less privileged backgrounds and to champion academic success.
Roots of Generosity: A Call to the Diaspora
Speaking at the presentation, the team lead for the Ajayi Foundation, Mrs. Aminat Ajayi, explained the inspiration behind the scholarship program. She described it as an initiative designed to promote learning and give back to the community, with a focus on supporting indigenous students within the council area.
Mrs. Ajayi shared personal anecdotes that fueled her commitment, emphasizing the importance of returning to one's roots to foster development. She issued a powerful appeal to Nigerians living abroad, urging them to remember and support their former schools. "Even if it is just $100, it goes a long way," she stated, invoking the proverb that little drops of water make a mighty ocean.
"As a mama of the diaspora, I want all the diasporas all over the world to come back in their own little way and impact the school they had their primary school, secondary school. It takes a village to raise a child," Mrs. Ajayi remarked. She expressed profound satisfaction that her children have embraced these values of service and community support, viewing investment in education as a direct investment in Nigeria's future.
Community Leaders Applaud the Initiative
The council chairman, Femi Oduayo, represented by his chief of staff, Lawal Afeez, praised the Ajayi Foundation's efforts. He described the scholarship awards as a testament to the power of giving back and encouraged other well-meaning Nigerians to emulate the gesture.
"I'm very grateful to the Ajayi Foundation; the children are the leaders of tomorrow, and education is a key factor to being successful in the country," Afeez said. "So I would really like to urge other people that are fit to do this kind of thing, giving back to the society. It's a really remarkable thing they just did here today."
The joy was palpable among the scholarship recipients. One of the beneficiaries, Mubarak Olaitan, conveyed the group's heartfelt gratitude: "I feel so happy. I wish God would replenish their pockets, their posts, and God bless them more so they can help others." The event at Femi Gbajabiamila School stands as a shining example of how community-focused philanthropy can directly shape educational opportunities and nurture the nation's future leaders.
