…As Over 10,000 Pupils from Lagos Island Benefit from Renewed Hope Back-to-School Project
The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, has commended the lawmaker representing Lagos Island Constituency I, Princess Omolara Oyekan-Olumegbon, for her sustained investment in education through the Renewed Hope Back-to-School Project, which has provided educational materials to over 10,000 primary and secondary school pupils.
The commendation came during the fourth edition of the initiative, held on Friday, October 16, 2026, at Dr. Teslim Elias Primary School, Oja Oba, Isale Eko, Lagos Island, where pupils received school bags, stationery and other educational materials to support their learning.
Dr. Hamzat was represented at the event by the APC Deputy Governorship Candidate for Lagos State, Princess Sonayon-James who encouraged the pupils to take their studies seriously, respect their teachers and parents, and remain focused on their academic goals.
Addressing the beneficiaries, the Deputy Governor, cautioned the students against truancy, cultism, drug abuse and other behaviours that could jeopardise their future.
Dr. Hamzat ppealed to parents and guardians to remain actively involved in their children’s education, while urging teachers to continue providing the guidance and support needed to nurture responsible, disciplined and academically successful pupils.
Also commending the initiative , the Director-General of the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council for the 2027 general elections, distinguished Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, noted that the initiative aligns with the T.H.E.M.E.S Plus Agenda of Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, particularly the administration’s commitment to strengthening education and building a Greater Lagos.
Obaniko said that the gesture by the lawmaker shows her determination to continue supporting programmes that improve educational access, empower young people and strengthen the welfare of families across Lagos Island Constituency 1 and beyond.
Speaking on the Back To School initiative, Oyekan-Olumegbon reaffirmed her commitment to prioritising the welfare of children, youths and women in her constituency, noting that education remains one of the most important investments in the future of any society.
She recalled that the project began with 170 pupils receiving school bags, notebooks and stationery during its inaugural edition but has since grown into a wider intervention reaching children across the 10 wards of Lagos Island Constituency I.
According to her, the initiative reflects a promise she made upon assuming office in 2023 to pursue practical interventions that address the needs of residents and create opportunities for vulnerable members of the community.
She explained that the project was intended not only to provide school materials but also to reassure children from disadvantaged backgrounds that their education and future remain important to their representatives and the wider community.
Oyekan-Olumegbon disclosed that the Back-to-School Project is one of 16 initiatives she undertakes annually to support her constituents, adding that she plans to expand the number of projects if re-elected in the 2027 general elections.
She also appealed to teachers, parents and guardians to ensure that the beneficiaries handle and care for the educational materials properly. She urged them to allow the pupils to retain and make full use of the items provided, rather than taking them away and thereby depriving the children of the intended benefits.
The lawmaker expressed appreciation to community leaders, the Lagos Island political leadership, the Local Government Education Authority, traditional rulers, partners and other supporters whose contributions have helped sustain the initiative over the years.
The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs. Abisola Dokunmu Adegbite, who spoke at the event , highlighted the need to prioritise children’s education and support initiatives that expand learning opportunities and secure a brighter future for the next generation.
Represented at the event by the Director of Basic Education, Mrs. Bosede Adumasi, the Permanent Secretary emphasised the importance of collective responsibility in nurturing the educational development of children, commending initiatives such as the Back-to-School Project for providing essential learning materials and easing the financial burden on parents and guardians.
She encouraged stakeholders to sustain their support for education, noting that investing in children’s learning is vital to building a brighter future for the next generation.
The initiative, which provides essential educational materials to pupils, is designed to ease the financial burden on parents at the beginning of the school term, encourage school attendance and support children’s academic development, particularly those from low-income households.
The fourth edition of the Renewed Hope Back-to-School Project of the lawmaker was attended by community stakeholders, parents, teachers, political leaders and other supporters who gathered to witness the distribution of educational materials to the beneficiaries.