Over 1,000 pupils benefit from Ayinla Foundation’s back-to-school initiative

Over 1,000 pupils in eight public primary schools in Ikeja Federal Constituency, Lagos, have benefited from the distribution of back-to-school materials by the Olalekan Ayinla Foundation.

The materials, comprising school uniforms, bags, notebooks, writing materials, sandals and other educational items, were distributed to support pupils as the 2026/2027 academic session begins.

The beneficiary schools are Adeniyi Jones Primary School, Tokunbo Ali Primary School, Sogunle Primary School, Onigbogbo Primary School, St. Peters Primary School, Opebi Primary School, Estate Primary School and Oke-Ira Primary School, Ogba.

The initiative, approved by the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB), provides 60 sets of back-to-school materials to pupils in each of the eight selected schools.

Mr Olalekan Ayinla, Founder of the foundation, said the initiative was designed to ease the financial burden on parents and encourage children to remain committed to their education.

“The motive is to support students in Lagos and, by extension, Nigeria, and to encourage them towards continuous learning for a better tomorrow.

“We believe that education is very important. The children should be encouraged to face their studies because education has helped many of us to get to where we are today.

“This is our own way of giving back and supporting parents by helping to reduce some of the financial burden associated with sending their children back to school,” he said.

Ayinla urged the beneficiaries to take their studies seriously, remain morally upright and become good ambassadors of their schools.

Mr Anthony Makinde, School Manager, Oke-Ira Primary School, commended the foundation for sustaining its support for pupils.

Makinde said the foundation had supported the school in the past, adding that the latest intervention demonstrated its continued commitment to the welfare and education of the pupils.

“We really appreciate the quality of the support. This is not the first time; the foundation also supported us last year and made sure that our pupils were happy.

“This year again, they have started another round of support. We pray that God Almighty will grant the founder the desires of his heart and continue to bless him.

“The pupils, staff and teachers appreciate this gesture and we are praying for the continued success of the foundation,” he said.

A pupil of Oke-Ira Primary School, Faizal Kazeem, appreciated the foundation for providing bags, books, writing materials and other items to support learning.

Kazeem prayed that God would continue to bless the organisation for remembering pupils who needed such assistance.

Dr Hakeem Shittu, Chairman, LASUBEB, represented by Mrs Folake Elliot, commended the foundation for complementing government’s efforts in the education sector.

Shittu said interventions such as the initiative would contribute to improving learning outcomes, while appealing to other well-meaning Nigerians to emulate the foundation by supporting less privileged children.

Mr Segun Odunmaku, Chairman, Ojodu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), also commended Ayinla for the initiative.

Teachers and pupils of the beneficiary schools expressed appreciation for the gesture, describing it as timely support for families preparing their children for the new academic session.

On the 2027 political activities, Ayinla reiterated his commitment to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying he would support candidates nominated by the party.

“Whatever comes from my party, the APC, I am in support. My priority is to support the party and ensure that candidates nominated for various positions are successful.

“I will also encourage members to go into the communities and mobilise support for the party and its candidates,” he said.

He, however, stressed that the back-to-school initiative was primarily focused on supporting pupils and encouraging education.