Stephen Akintayo Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has paid N2.5 million as school fees for 50 students in Nigeria.
The founder of the group, Dr Stephen Akintayo, while presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries on Sunday at Ikeja, Lagos, said that the payment would help cushion the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the parents of the beneficiaries.
He said that the cheques were written in favour of the beneficiaries’ schools, adding that the fees would be paid directly to the schools’ account on behalf of the students.
According to him, this is to ensure the money is used for the intended purpose.
Akintoye said that the initiative was taken to alleviate the challenges some parents go through paying their children’s school fees, particularly with the hardships induced by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He expressed hope that the money would put smiles on the faces of the students as they return back to school
According to him, the bursary awards reminded him of his experience and difficult times while growing up.
“My mother was a civil servant who struggled to raise five children.
“She took loans to keep us in school and I vowed that as God blesses me in whatever capacity, l will give back.
“I always say that no human body can survive without air, that is the same way giving is like breathing.
“No destiny can become glorious without giving and like M.K.O Abiola would say, the giving hand is always on top”.
Akintayo, who is also the Group Managing Director of GText Homes, urged the beneficiaries to remain strong and focused in order to become successful in their future endeavours.
He said, “Everyone can give in their own little way, giving is not just for the rich.
“It is in Nigeria that we have the mind-set that only the rich should give back to the society.
“In the U.K or U.S., you see children selling candies for charity. Everyone should understand that it is a collective effort and we can all do it at our levels.
“We need to have that mind-set in Nigeria where all of us will see charity as our collective responsibility,” he said.
Akintayo, however, assured that the foundation would continue to protect and promote the interest of students for a better nation.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria thanked the foundation for the gesture while urging other Nigerians to emulate the foundation.
Master Thompson Moses, a student of Faith Foundation Model School, Alogbole Ogun, lauded the gesture, saying it was a good relief to them at this period of pandemic.
Another beneficiary, Miss Blessing Okon of the Praise Children Preparatory School, Ilesa, Osun, said that her guardian lost her job to COVID-19 and that life became difficult for them.
“Due to the outbreak of the COVID-19, my aunt lost her job and this made it difficult for her to pay my school fees but l thank God that l can now go back to school through the kind gesture of this foundation,” she said
Other beneficiaries included Abdulmalik Tijani, De Modern Pace School, Ipaja, Lagos; Aishat Robiu of Budding Minds Academy, Oshodi, Lagos and Emmanuel Godson of Scholars Universal College, Ota, Ogun.
