We are grateful to God for the successful completion of our 4th Education Project. This year our Excercise Book/Notebook delivery to 8 schools was spread over multiple days. On our first day, we were honored to visit six schools in Igosun, Kwara State, Nigeria (Baptist L.G.E.A. School, Baptist Nursery & Primary School, Muslim Community L.G.E.A. School, Mogaji Idera Community L.G.E.A. School, Igosun High School and Government Secondary School) where we distributed exercise books and higher education notebooks to 1,049 students and 111 teachers.

On this first day of distribution, we were honored to have with us the Oyun Local Government Education Secretary in person of Mr. Olayinka Afolayan who encouraged the students to be a shining light not just at school but in whatever they do and wherever they are. School Support Officers and Chairman of Headmasters for Primary Schools from Oyun Local Government Education Authority also visited each school with us and participated in the distribution.

On the second day of distribution, God provided access to extend the Education Project at Community L.G.E.A. Falokun-Pononbon School. This was an awesome and new endeavor for us. Through the connection of one of our Implementation Committee Members, Pastor Lawrence Olaleru, we were introduced to this school and the families and children in need attending here. The children do not have the resources to purchase the exercise books they need much less uniforms. As you can see, most of these kids are not in uniform.

To some, these are school supplies. To this school, the distribution that took place on this day communicated so much more. The gift of these books communicated love, care, concern and a compassion for people from another tribe. Through this act of love, members in this community, especially the Kemberis and Bororos who have refused to bring their children to school because of money, have now pledged to start bringing them. An act of kindness and generosity has had a domino effect on this entire community. Through this giving, the hearts of the parents were softened and more children will be given the freedom to attend school and learn. With these pledges made, this gesture will drive up the enrollment at this school.

On the third day of distribution, we wrapped up our 2019 Education Project with a visit to Great Foundation Nursery & Primary School as well as J.S.S. 1 (equivalent to 7th grade) at both Government Secondary School and Igosun High School. It is such an honor to be blessed to be a blessing to these schools. Both the staff and students at Great Foundation Nursery & Primary School were excited to experience our arrival today. This particular school has recently been established and although we did not have their enrollment numbers during the planning stages of our project, we were able to visit and distribute notebooks. Not only were they shocked but also elated to be part of the Ebunlomo Olagunju Foundation Education Project of 2019.

We made extra efforts this year to get to the schools and the students to deliver their notebooks as close to school starting as possible. With our early distribution, the J.S.S. 1 students had not yet received their results for class entry and therefore had not yet entered school. With our return to the Government Secondary School and Igosun High School, we were able to meet and distribute notebooks to these incoming students. It was our pleasure to find out that in addition to the expected list of students in J.S.S. 1, we found transfer students as well and we had enough notebooks to include these additional students. No one was left out!

This year in total we had the pleasure to visit eight schools and were able to bless 1,125 students and 117 teachers with 1,999 – 40 leaves notebooks, 2,700 – 60 leaves notebooks and 1,715 – 80 leaves higher education notebooks. Our hearts were warmed once again to see the anticipation and excitement on the students faces as we arrived at the schools each day of distribution. Throughout the entire event, the buzz and impact felt throughout the town was tangible.

To God alone be the glory for the continued success of the Foundation. A special thank you to the Implementation Committee, Board of Trustees and our generous donors who continue to make this possible. It is our prayer that God will reward each of you in ways that only He can. We are indeed blessed to be a blessing and it is an honor to be a steward of God’s blessings.