By Giwa SHILE
A Nigerian based in U.S., Ms Seun Akinlosotu, has donated school materials worth N1.1 million to 300 pupils in public primary schools in Ondo Town, Ondo State.
Akinlosotu presented the materials under the initiative of: “Seun and Friends Campaign’’, to parents and guardians of the benefiting pupils drawn from the Ondo West Local Government Area, where she hails from.
The school materials include 300 school bags, books, pencils, rulers and crayons.
Akinlosotu, currently working in a software development company in U.S, said her philanthropic gesture would become an annual project for indigent students in the state.
“This is my way of giving back to the society where I was born and brought up. Nigeria has always been on my heart and I constantly think about what I can do to improve the lives of other people.
“I am very passionate about children’s welfare and their education. As great as America is, it cannot provide 100 per cent of its citizens’ needs; how much more a country like Nigeria with a growing economy,’’ Akinlosotu said.
She said her friends contributed in funding the mission, which would be first of many more to come. “The plan is to do this every year in a different state and town for less privileged children in public schools; actually we can’t wait to kick-start the 2019 campaign.
“In Nigeria, parents send their children to public schools due to financial constraint, so the whole idea is to take the burden of buying school bags and writing materials off their shoulders,’’ the donor said.
She made clarification that she did not have any immediate plans to go into politics.
Akinlosotu said: “Political atmosphere in Nigeria is scary to me at the moment. However, I may have a different opinion in five or 10 years’ time.’’
She urged individuals, corporate organisations and other Nigerians in Diaspora to engage in philanthropy regularly.
Speaking on behalf of other beneficiaries, one of the benefitting pupils, Oluwamodupe Akinsiku of St. Patrick Mega School, Ondo, said they were elated for the gesture.
Akinsiku, while lauding Akinlosotu for keeping up with the initiative, said they were full of excitement and praises for the initiative of the donor.
