A journey of a 14-year-old girl to success was held sway due to financial constraints. She was out of school for more than 3 years. When she had completed her primary school education, she couldn’t proceed because of reasons associated with money.
According to her carer, Mrs Abibatu Aminu, she disclosed that Zainab lost her mother when she was 2-year-old. She said when her parents died, Zainab and her eldest brother live with her. She confessed she has been taking care of both of them and making sure they are well-fed, housed and clothed.
She said, “Zainab has been living with me when she was 2-year-old. She was the last born of her mother. Zainab and her brother stay with me. She was supposed to have entered school some 3 years ago but we could not afford to send her because her brother was in his final year at Secondary school. All the expenses of his brother could not allow us to enrol her to school.”
Zainab is a young and inspiring girl with a big vision. According to her, she had a dream of becoming a great person in life so that she can look after herself and cater for her immediate family.
The hope of this young girl going back to school was dashed. No one to help in terms of payment of school fees and provision of other needed school materials. She was determined and hopeful that one day, she would meet her benefactor.
‘I was never a dull girl.’
Zainab said, “Anytime I see my mates going to school I always feel bad. Although, I was helpless and there was nothing I could do to change the narrative. The woman I am living with is so caring and so much concerned about my education. But she could not afford to enrol me in school because my eldest brother was about to complete his secondary education.”
“I was hopeful that one day I would meet someone who will help and sponsor me back to school. I was never a dull girl. When I was in primary school, I took my study so serious. I never joke with my books even when I wasn’t at school, I study at home.”
On a Monday morning, she was on an errand for her carer. She was walking down the street when she met the personal assistant to the minister of Interior, Comrade Olateju Ishola Olohungbebe who inquired about her and asked why she wasn’t in school.
In a video shared with The Informant247, when the young girl was first approached, she felt reluctant, maybe she had had a similar promise in the past which was futile. She could not believe she would eventually go back to school until she got the schoolbags and other materials she needed.
‘Those girls who dropped out of school, do all sorts of unbefitting and risky jobs.’
While speaking, Olohungbebe said he would take charge of the responsibility to make sure that the girl gets qualitative education. He stressed that the majority of those girls who did not see anyone to send them to school ended up on the street and faced a lot of sexual harassment and abuse.
The philanthropist said, “It is pathetic that majority of those girls who couldn’t proceed for their education due to financial reasons do face many problems ranging from sexual abuse and harassment, domestic violence and mostly engaged in social vices.
“That’s why I have taken the challenge to do the little I can to make sure we have a peaceful and saner society.
“I discover many of those girls who dropped out of school, do all sorts of unbefitting and risky jobs. I do pity them that’s why I have decided to help whosoever I can afford to assist in my little way.”
Comrade Olateju through his Scholarship and Empowerment Initiative has promised to sponsor the girl throughout her Secondary and Tertiary Education.
“This scholarship initiative is an idea initiated by him based on his person to ensure that the people at the grassroots got empowered. He is the kind of person, that has a keen interest and passion for the less privileged people.
“That brings about the scholarship and empowerment initiative. There is a beneficiary in this school, her name is Zainab. We have come to ensure she is being taken care of and attended to. And we have gotten all the necessary information needed in ensuring that she is fixed inappropriate class and given the quality education required as planned by Ishola Olateju himself and we have met with the school management and discussed with them and they have assured us that her education program will surely be monitored,” Comrade Adeyemo Richard, Co-coordinating officer to Olateju Education Foundation explained.
Oladele Zainab who hails from Idofian, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, expressed delight when she was finally enrolled to Idofian Junior Secondary school and admitted to JSS1. While explaining her first day at school, she said she felt very happy and fulfilled.
She added that although she has a very long way to go her enrollment is litmus to show that the future is bright for her.
Speaking in an interview with The Informant247, the principal of Idofian Junior Secondary school, Bakare Olabode, said the scholarship given to Zainab was a very nice thing done by Comrade Olateju.
“I am very happy. On the day that I was called and informed about the decision to enrol a less privileged lady in our school. Mr Soliu, a son of Idofian, asked about the steps he needed to take to register the girl back to school.
“I told him everything; the money and other necessary materials he needs to bring along when coming to register the girl. Zainab would have joined the school last term but the scholarship came when the school was about to close for the first term. So, they had to wait until this term when she was finally enrolled.
“The school fees were paid last week and necessary materials were brought to the school. I was very excited when I heard about the development. It’s is a rare opportunity. I urge wealthy Nigerians to imitate this kind of initiative in order to help the less privileged persons in our society.”