By Hassan Hussain
The As-Sakeenah Islamic Relief Foundation has awarded one-year scholarships to ten pupils and students of LGA Primary School, Byazhin, and Government Secondary School, Byazhin, Kubwa, Abuja.
The beneficiaries, drawn from the two schools, will receive full educational support for the 2025/2026 academic session to enable them to remain in school without interruption.
Presenting the awards, the Executive Director of the Foundation, Alhaji Hashim Olalekan, said the initiative was driven by its commitment to promoting access to quality education, particularly for children from indigent families struggling with the rising cost of schooling.
According to him, education remains a critical tool for empowering young people, breaking the cycle of poverty and building a more productive society. He urged the beneficiaries to take their studies seriously, maintain discipline and uphold good moral values.
Alhaji Olalekan explained that the scholarship covers tuition for the entire academic year, with plans to also provide textbooks and other learning materials. He described the intervention as the Foundation’s first educational outreach, expressing hope to increase the number of beneficiaries to 100 next year, subject to available resources.
He called on individuals and corporate organisations to support initiatives aimed at improving access to education for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, noting that education and community development remain core programmes of the Foundation.
Responding, the Assistant Head Teacher of LEA Primary School, Byazhin, Mr. Aliyu Rotimi, thanked the Foundation for selecting the school at a time when it was most in need of assistance.
Mr. Rotimi lamented that several classroom blocks in the school are dilapidated and require urgent renovation, while inadequate furniture has left some pupils sitting on bare floors during lessons. He also cited poor drainage and a muddy school compound that makes movement difficult, especially during the rainy season.
He appealed to well-meaning individuals, NGOs and corporate bodies to support the school with infrastructure, furniture and landscaping to create a more conducive learning environment.
On her part, Mrs. Ogundele Christiana of the Guidance and Counselling Department, Government Secondary School, Byazhin, said the gesture would enable the beneficiaries to focus on their studies rather than worry about school fees.
“We are grateful and we thank God on behalf of the school for this intervention. A lot of children are passing through different challenges and it affects their studies. This intervention will go a long way in helping them focus,” she said.
She urged individuals, churches, mosques and organisations to emulate the Foundation by supporting children from vulnerable homes.
Some of the beneficiaries, including Emmanuel Ejike, Husseina Adejo, Bamidele David, Emmanuel Samuel, Sedikat Usman, Harry Sekinat, Murtala Jemila, Hamza Sani and David Favour, described the scholarship as a timely intervention and prayed for sustained provision for the Foundation.
