■ Donates generating set, other goodies
>Renovates classroom, installs fan, TV for her pupils
A nursery-2 teacher at Methodist Nursery and Primary School, Abeokuta,
Ogun State, Mrs. Opeogun Folake Ayoade, who was dissatisfied with the
less-than-adequate condition under which her pupils were learning has
done demonstrated the spirit espoused by late former United States
President John F. Kennedy, who on the day of his inauguration in 1961,
charged Americans, "Ask not for what your country can do for you,
rather ask for what you can do for your country."
Fired up by this thought, Ayoade took the uncommon step of spending
almost N400,000 of her own funds to renovate the classroom in which
she taught the pupils, who could tomorrow become president, governors,
legislators, professionals and captains of industry.
Self-effacing Ayoade, said she took the bold initiative to complement
government's efforts at providing education for the citizenry.
She did not only renovate classroom which accommodates 30 pupils,
Ayoade re-plastered the floor, repainted the walls, inside and
outside; she decorated them with educational nursery images and
symbols and equipped the classroom with teaching and learning aids
such as television, DVD player, picture charts in addition to
installing a standing fan, window blind and provided a generating set
thereby making the learning environment conducive for the pupils.
As it turned out, Ayoade's marvelous, laudable and pioneering effort
did not go unnoticed as the Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board
(SUBEB) wrote her a letter of commendation, which as she disclosed,
would spur her to do more.
Since the beautiful manifestation of her deep love for the pupils
under tutelage, Ayoade has become the envy of her colleagues across
the state and parents of pupils who continue to shower her with praise
and drench the humble teacher with their prayers.
Ayoade, a graduate of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye,
Ijebu North Area of the state, where she studied Nursery/Primary
Education, toldSunday Sunthat government alone should not be left
with the responsibility of providing educational infrastructure.
Her words: "As a teacher, I strongly believe that responsibilities of
providing qualitative education to all Nigerians in all tiers should
not be left to the governments alone. When I was posted to this class
few years ago, I decided to take the bull by the horn and joined hands
with our state government not only to ensure conducive environment for
my pupils, but also provide teaching aids which I believe will
enhance their learning."
Ayoade, mother of five paid glowing tributes to his late mother who,
she said, shouldered the responsibilities of bringing up her children
alone after the sudden death of her father.
"I lost my father when I was in primary six and the responsibilities
of educating us fell on my mother, a teacher who did her best to bring
us up as well as educate us. Forever, I will be grateful to her.
Speaking further on her motivation to embark on the project, Ayoade
said: "I felt I could contribute my own quota to the educational needs
of the school particularly when the classroom condition was not
conducive. The classroom was an eyesore with its dilapidated floor as
well as internal and external walls which were begging for attention
when I was posted here.
"I summoned up courage with my meagre salary to re-plaster the
classroom floor, re-paint both the internal and external walls and
later went on to give it a new face by equipping it with desired
teaching aids, which to the glory of God has made learning faster and
the pupils are excited about it.
"I believe we have to assist government in whatever way for them to
help us too. When I started this in December 2012, many of my
colleagues were wondering what had come over me, but I thank my
husband for his encouragement."
Ayoade's choice of teaching as a profession was made when she was
quite young: " I so much love teaching, not necessarily because my
late mother was a teacher, but because of the fact that teachers are
character moulders. I was also encouraged by the discipline with
which my mother as a teacher brought us up. Before my degree programme
at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, where I studied
Nursery/Primary Education, I had also completed a teaching programme
at the famous Baptist Women College, Idi-Aba between 1982 and 1985.
http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=72997
Contd...
ReplyDeleteA project of such magnitude would discourage any average income salary earner in the public service but Ayoade said her decision to go ahead with the idea was buoyed by the wise saying, ‘where there is a will, there will always be a way’ which enabled her to save part of her salary as a Grade Level 12 teacher, because of her strong desire “to give something to my pupils as well as my state.”
She said the management of SUBEB was amazed that a teacher could do what she did and wondered whether she was an ex-pupil of the school. But she is not. Having showed a worthy example, Ayoade wants parents and other teachers to join hands with government to deliver education to children/wards in a way that would ensure that parents and teachers are not forgotten by posterity, stressing that whatever parents/teachers do today will constitute the history of tomorrow.
Speaking at the dedication of the classrom, a commissioner in the State Universal Basic Education Board, Chief Mrs. Magret Ogunpola, a retired teacher, commended the kind gesture of Ayoade.
While charging other teachers to emulate her, she recalled: “even as a teacher, I have never witnessed this kind of trail blazing effort by a teacher in the state, It is highly commendable and motivational.”
Chairman of SUBEB, Chief Mufutau Ajibola expressed gratitude to Ayoade and confessed that he was overwhelmed by her gesture.
“I commend her interest in education, it shows that she is not only interested in teaching pupils, but also has their welfare at heart. This she has demonstrated with this self-help project which is worthy of emulation by all and sundry. It gladdens my heart that the clarion call of the state government for a public/private partnership is really working out well in the state. This event is an attestation that teachers too are not left out of this call. It is my hope that other teachers and organizations would emulate Ayoade’s gesture.”
A parent, Mrs. Adisa Kehinde, said three of her children passed through Ayoade’s class, and described her as both a teacher and mother and noted: “She relates well with her pupils so much that they are always eager to be in school. As parents, we are appreciative of what she did and we will continue praying for her to succeed in life.”