5,000 indigent Oyo pupils benefit from FG initiative

No fewer than 5,000 pupils from hard-to-reach communities in Oyo State have benefitted from the Federal Government BAT-STEM initiative as part of the government’s quest to ensure inclusiveness in every strata of society.

This was revealed during the official unveiling of the programme recently by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (Southwest), Moremi Ojudu.

Ojudu said the initiative aligned with the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to uplift grassroots communities through education and other critical interventions.

The three-day education outreach programme organised by the Presidential Community Engagement Office (South-West), is part of the federal government’s BAT-STEM (Scholarship, Training, Education, Mentorship) project, aimed at providing critical school supplies and scholarships to students across various communities.

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The first day of the outreach took the team to several schools, including Nomadic School, Owode, Lanlate; St. Michael Cherubim & Seraphim Primary School, Eruwa; Anwar-ul-Islam Primary School, Eruwa; and Baptist Primary School, Maya, Lanlate, where over 50,000 exercise books, 1,000 school bags, 100 white marker boards, sandals, socks, math sets, and other materials were distributed.

Among the highlights was the visit to Eruwa Special Basic School, where pupils with special needs received back-to-school items.

On the second day, the outreach moved to schools in Oriire and Ogo-Oluwa local government areas, where students at Tewure Grammar School, Tewure; Ajinapa Community Grammar School, Ajinapa; and Oloya Community Primary School, Oloya, also received back-to-school items and scholarships.

Additional scholarships were presented at Community High School, Iwo Ate, and Baptist Grammar School, Ajaawa.

One of scholarship recipients from Baptist Grammar School expressed gratitude, saying, “This scholarship is a blessing. It has given me hope for a brighter future.”

The programme, which awarded 100 scholarships worth ₦50,000 each to selected students, offered a much-needed financial assistance to help them stay in school and pay for upcoming examinations.

In addition, food items were distributed to teachers and community members, further extending the support of the initiative beyond education.

The BAT-STEM project aims to close educational gaps in underserved communities while providing teachers with the tools they need to cultivate better learning environments.