Old students of Atakumosa High School, Osu, Osun State, under the auspices of their foundations, have given various sums of money in scholarships to current students of the school.
The Secretary General of the Old Students Association, Gbadegesin Aasa, who presided over the presentation of the awards to the beneficiaries, in the premises of the school, on Thursday, also declared the readiness of two old students to sponsor any student from the school gains admission to study Law and Medicine in any federal university in the country in the 2025/2026 academic year.
Giving further breakdown of the scholarship awards, Aasa said the James Adebayo Foundation was paying National Examination Council fees for the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination of 16 students, while 10 others received a sum of N50,000 each from the Michael Okebiorun Foundation.
Four other students were selected for the Dare Adeboye Foundation, while the same set of students also collected a sum of N50,000 each through the Lateef Akande Bakare Foundation.
An ex-student of the school, Akinloluwa Faluyi, studying in Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, also got scholarship award from the James Adebayo Foundation.
Aasa, who said the money that would be given to the beneficiaries, would be paid to the account of their parents.
He also commended a member of the 1975 set of the school, Mr. Dipo Ayegbusi for donating two pairs of jerseys and soccer boots to the school.
Expressing the readiness of the Association to further support the school, Aasa further said, “We are encouraged to do more for the present students because we are seeing the results.
Out of 10 students that got Dare Adeboye Foundation award in Ijesaland, 4 of them are from Atakumosa High School, Osu.
“Ten students gained admission last year to universities, the same year they wrote their Senior Secondary School Leaving Examination in this school. That is apart from others that gained admission to other tertiary institutions like polytechnics and Colleges of Education.
“In the past, maybe about three or four will gain admission the same year they leave school. But we got about 10 the same year they sat for WASSCE. There is improvement. Even the conduct of the students, we are seeing improvement.”
Speaking at the event, the Tutor General, Ijesa Division, Olusola Awe, who represented the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr Muritala Jimoh, warned the students against drug abuse, noting that indulging in such acts portend dangers for their future.
“Involving in drugs portends dangers for the future. People are trying to shy away from discussing it but it is one matter that should be approached with seriousness by all stakeholders. I advise you to keep away from it. You can thread that path and become anything meaningful,” she added.