AIFA Reading Society, in its mission to achieve sustainable educational development by promoting literacy and a reading culture, partnered with Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) / Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) and its co-venture partners – ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies and Agip to promote reading culture and literacy among students in Eko Akete Grammar School on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. Through this partnership, textbooks and notebooks amongst other educational materials were donated to the school and its students. To sustain the interest in reading sparked by the donations, the partners launched a Book Reading Club which will be supported by Women in Shell (WIS) volunteers.
The Representatives of NNPC/SNEPCo, Lagos State Ministry of Education and the Education District III, Directors of AIFA Reading Society, the School’s Administrators, and members of the Junior School Parents’ Forum attended the event.
The event which kicked off at 1pm had Mrs. Nireti Adebayo, a Director of the Society, give the opening remark where she reiterated the Society’s commitment to its mission to achieve sustainable educational development by promoting literacy and a reading culture. She advised the students of Eko Akete Grammar School to take advantage of the Society’s opportunities to improve themselves as the future of Nigeria lies with them.
Also speaking at the event, the Strategy, Planning and Operations Manager, Corporate Relations Nigeria, Mr. Tunde Adams, who represented the Managing Director SNEPCo, applauded SNEPCo’s commitment to improve the quality education in Nigeria as education takes the place of pride in the list of social investment activities of the company.
Mrs. Tolulope T. Derin-Adefuwa, representing the Group Managing Director, NNPC, stated in her remarks that NNPC believes in touching lives through education and will continue to support education. She encouraged the students to believe in themselves, represent Nigeria positively, and shine the light wherever they find themselves.
The books were donated to the School’s Library by Mr. Tunde Adams and Mrs.Tolulope T. Derin-Adefuwa on behalf of the sponsors, with Professor Fabian Ajogwu, SAN and Mrs. Abiola Seriki-Ayeni representing AIFA Reading Society. The donation was received by Dr Idowu Olufunke Oyetola, Tutor General/Permanent Secretary, Education District III, Lagos Island, Mr. Iyun Abiodun Oladunjoye, Principal, Eko Akete Senior Grammar School and Mrs. Omowunmi Sodipe, Principal, Eko Akete Junior Grammar School. It is noteworthy that Mrs. Abiola Seriki- Ayeni, a Director of AIFA Reading Society was also at the event in her capacity as Director General, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Lagos State.
In partnership with NNPC/SNEPCO, the Society donate over 1000 copies of educational materials which includes textbooks for Junior Secondary School, notebooks and literature books. In addition to the book donations to the School Library, the top 5 students in each set from the Junior and Senior Secondary School totaling 30 students received backpacks donated by Ibikunle Dashur Foundation, Fabian Ajogwu Foundation and Kenna Partners. Engineer Ibikunle Dashur and Professor Fabian Ajogwu, SAN, both Directors of the AIFA Reading Society, presented the backpacks to the students.
The guests were entertained with a cultural performance and a poetry recitation by the students. A major unplanned highlight of the event was the awarding of scholarship covering tertiary education to Miss Ifebuchi Ozougwu, a student from SSS3 from Fabian Ajogwu Foundation. Professor Fabian Ajogwu, SAN, on congratulating Miss Ifebuchi Ozougwu, urged stakeholders and individuals to help empower the younger generation for a better nation.
Mrs. Abiola Seriki-Ayeni, Director General of Office of Education Quality Assurance, Lagos State and a Director of the Society, encouraged the students to take practical steps to utilise the books donated to the school’s library and take active responsibility for their development towards becoming better adults.
The Society launched the AIFA Book Club in the School, which is sponsored by SNEPCo/NNPC and will be supported by the Women in Shell (WIS). Ms. Magdaline Oyoroh, the Society’s Programme Officer, stated that the aim of the book club is to build a community of avid readers, boost participants’ self-esteem and increase their learning potential as they interact with other individuals. She encouraged everyone irrespective of their status to join the Society in spreading the joy of reading. The principals of the Junior and Senior school, Mrs. Sodipe and Mr. Iyun thanked the Society and SNEPCo/NNPC for the donation made to the school and the book club which was launched. They pledged to utilise the materials donated which will aid the students in becoming responsible adults.
Other attendees at the book donation were Dr. Annastecia Ozioma-Amechi, Social Performance and Social Investment Advisor, SNEPCO; Dr. Ayobami Ekuemonisan, Social Investment – Education, SNEPCo; Mr. Folarin Oyalade, Social Investment Planning, SNEPCo; Mr O.G. Shittu, – School’s Administration Unit, Education District III, Lagos Island; Mr Sobanke Rafiu, Vice Principal Administration, Eko Akete Senior Grammar School; Mrs Akinwutimi Christie Abiola. Vice Principal Academics, Eko Akete Senior Grammar School; Mr Ibekwe Godwin Okechukwu, Vice Principal Administration, Eko Akete Junior Grammar School; Mr Aina Hassan Taiwo, Vice Principal Academics, Eko Akete Junior Grammar School; two members of the Public Affairs Department m (PAD) at NNPC, three members of the Women in Shell team, and eight members of the Parents Forum, Eko Akete Junior Grammar School.
Through its various initiatives, AIFA Reading Society has reached over 100,000 children and adults in Nigeria and continues to increase its reach.
