For many secondary school students, a new textbook or school bag can make the difference between struggling through a term and feeling ready for exams.
The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has called on individuals and organisations to support government efforts to improve Nigeria’s education sector.
He made the appeal on Wednesday during the distribution of educational materials to students in 23 secondary schools across Surulere, Lagos State.
Some of the beneficiary schools include Ajigbeda Secondary School, Iyun; Stadium High School, Iyun; Surulere Girls High School, Empire; Akintan Secondary School; Gbaja Girls Secondary School; and New Era Girls Secondary School.
Thousands of items — including textbooks, school bags, exercise books, and mathematical sets — were handed out during the programme.
Gbajabiamila, represented by the lawmaker for Surulere Federal Constituency I in the House of Representatives, Fouad Laguda, described education as the foundation of sustainable development.
“Education is the foundation of sustainable development. It is the difference between development and a lack of it. It is for this reason that it is important for stakeholders and people of means to assist the government in repositioning the education sector, as the government cannot do it alone. What we are doing today is contributing our own quota to support students and schools in Surulere to improve learning outcomes,” he said.
According to him, the initiative has so far impacted no fewer than 8,000 students, both during his time as Speaker of the House of Representatives and now as Chief of Staff. He added that education played a critical role in shaping his own life, stressing that investments in education can never be excessive.
The Chief of Staff encouraged students to make good use of the materials and strive for excellence in their studies.
“This intervention is to support and motivate you, and I do hope that you will all do well in your examinations to encourage us to do more,” he said.
Speaking at one of the schools, the Vice-Chairman of Surulere Local Government, Muiz Dosunmu, commended Gbajabiamila for his leadership and commitment to service.
The Principal of Stadium Secondary School, Christiana Badejo, described the gesture as an investment in the future of both the students and the country.
“The Chief of Staff has made a great investment with this gesture; he has laid the foundation for a better Nigeria. On behalf of the school and the students, I thank the Chief of Staff and I pray that as he touches lives, God will continue to bless him. Gbajabiamila is a blessing to Surulere and humanity. We love you and God will continue to bless you,” she said.
A school prefect at Ajigbeda Secondary School, Aisha Jimoh, also expressed appreciation on behalf of the students.
“We count ourselves very lucky in Surulere because the Chief of Staff has done so much for us. Students in other areas are not as lucky. We promise to use the materials judiciously for better performance in our studies. We are very grateful, sir,” she said.
The lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Desmond Elliot, also represented the Chief of Staff during similar presentations in some schools.
The development comes just days after Gbajabiamila urged Nigerians, particularly the wealthy, to use the holy month of Ramadan as a period of reflection and meaningful support for the less privileged.
“Ramadan reminds us that leadership is a trust and wealth is a responsibility. We must use what God has given us to uplift those around us,” he said.
For students juggling rising costs of education and family pressure, such interventions can ease small but important burdens.
Yet beyond donations, the bigger conversation remains: how can sustainable partnerships between government and private citizens consistently strengthen classrooms across Nigeria?
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.