Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja
The Speaker Kogi State House of Assembly, Prince Matthew Kolawole has given out a sum of N4.5 million to about 350 students as their education support.
The member representing Kabba/Bunu State Constituency has also been endorsed by his constituents to contest for another term come 2019 political dispensation.
This was disclosed in a recent programme held at the St. Augustine College, Kabba, where over 350 students across the constituency including non-indigenes benefited from his N4.5million Education Support Scheme.
According to him, “it was a vow between himself and God to consistently support the people especially in the area of education considering his love for education and the challenges he went through before he could get education.
He said he was not that lucky to be born with silver spoon; hence he resorted to menial jobs to raise money for his education while growing up, noting that his parents were not privileged to be rich but he was determined to make it in life.
The Speaker enjoined the youths to take their education serious as leaders of today and no longer of tomorrow, stressing that he did not allow the challenges of growing up to weigh him down in pursuing his education.
He stressed that he graduated from Primary School in 1978 but could not continue to secondary level due to lack of resources, noting that when his classmates in Primary School left the secondary in 1983, he was only able to complete his own in 1987.
According to him, he loved education even when the means was not available, pointing out that despite his predicaments then, he emerged the overall best student in Oyi Local Government Area in 1978 session.
Kolawole said going through his résumé shows that it took him 20 solid years before he could complete his secondary education, pointing out that he gave this background for people to know why he loves education.
The Speaker said it is a vow between him and God to continue to give support to the people especially the upcoming generation in the area of education, as the only way to help the society at large.
He said as part of his campaign promises during electioneering to reposition the education sector of the constituency, he decided to introduce the scheme to assist parents at this time and other initiatives like the Quiz Competition, Scholarship scheme and empowerment programmes to reposition the constituency.
He advised the youths against hooliganism, drug abuse and other social vices that may be detrimental to their future, noting that he would never use anyone for thuggery because of election.
The Speaker also promised to construct a standard healthcare centre in Gbeleko for the people of the area to access qualitative health care services.
Speaking at the occasion, Rt. Hon. Matthew Kolawole hailed the constituents for the opportunity given to him to serve, urging them to continue to support and remain committed to the current administration in the state led by Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
He then released N200,000 cheque to Okeofin community toward the completion of their town hall project and N300,000 to the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Kabba/Bunu Chapter for their office accommodation.
