Uchechukwu Nnaike

The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, representing Ikorodu Constituency, recently hosted more than 500 primary school pupils from Ikorodu and environs to a party in Ikorodu, to celebrate her 50th birthday.

The children had a lot to eat and drink in a relaxed atmosphere with good music and other side attractions like games and toys. They also received gifts of a school bag each, containing exercise books, Mathematics set, water bottle, lunch box, among others.

The lawmaker said she invited the children to celebrate with her because most of her projects are children-oriented and because “I find children inspirational, I learn a lot from them.” She said the items that the pupils got were meant to last them for some time in school.

She said she has awarded scholarships and assisted students who could not meet the financial requirements of their education because of her believe that every Nigerian child should have good education. “No Nigerian child should be denied education because of the circumstance of their birth or because there is no money. We help any child who needs help; there are some students that just a few thousands of naira will meet their educational needs.”

According to her, some of her intervention projects include a computer literacy centre, which has trained over 300 students, some of whom have become entrepreneurs; a scholarship scheme, which has supported many students; mentorship programmes, among others.

“A few of them that have gone through some forms of support are doing well, take the triplets for instance, they were the first set when I started the scholarship scheme, today they are in the university.”

Some of the pupils who spoke with THISDAY said they had a good time with the legislator and wished for more of such. Master Olaide Umar, a pupil of Great Skies Montessori School, said he will cherish the gifts he received and it would help him to remember the event of that day. He wished Dabiri-Erewa long life and more celebrations.

A beneficiary of her scholarship scheme, one of the Anaele triplet, Chiedozie, who is currently a third year Petroleum Engineering student at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), said he got the scholarship in 2004 with his two brothers when they were in primary six. He said Dabiri-Erewa promised to see them through their university and she has kept her promise. He described her as a good role model and a great achiever, while wishing her a happy birthday.