Chairman, Transition Implementation Council of Offa Local Government, Hon. Jare Olatundun and the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye II have jointly commended the Offa Professional Ladies Forum (OPLaF) for its numerous contributions to the socio-economic and educational development of Offa town in particular and the nation at large.

The commendation was made during the presentation by the Forum of school materials such as shelves, text books, tables, long benches, Physics, Biology and Chemistry equipment all worth more than N2 million.

The presentation ceremony, which had Offa community High School and Iyeru Okin High School, both in the ancient town as beneficiaries, was graced by several individuals and groups including representative of the Kwara State Ministry of Education, Olofa in Council, Offa Local Government, Offa Descendants Union (ODU) ANCOPPS, parents and students among others.

Speaking at the occasion, the Chairman of Offa Transition Council, Hon. Jare Olatundun, who praised the forum for its patriotic and philanthropic gestures, said the action would not only make learning and teaching conducive for both the teachers and pupils, but will also alleviate the sufferings of the benefitting schools.

The council boss said that no government could solve numerous educational requirements in the country alone.

Hon. Olatundun, while charging staff and students of the benefitting institutions to make the best use of the materials and take proper care of them, also charged parents and guardians to monitor their children and wards.

He pointed out that what is happening among students in the country today are mostly from parents and guardians, “for their lukewarm attitude to their children and wards, adding that ignorance is no excuse for education and they should monitor and discipline their children as at when due.

At the Olofa's palace where the forum was received on behalf of the Olofa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi, Esuwoye II, by High Chief Alhaji Isiaka Shittu, the Asalofa of Offa, said the forum's kind gesture is a great challenge and worthy of emulation by the existing numerous social and well meaning organizations in Offa as well as philanthropic individuals in the ancient town.

In her own remark at the palace, the Bobaselu of Offa, Chief Mrs. Wosilat Macarthy, who described the forum as a silent achiever, said, “this is an encouragement and lessons for those coming behind”.

She also said that with the forum action, “the dream of our forefathers is being realized” and appealed to them not to rest on their oars and also charged other individuals and groups to emulate the forum.

She later enrolled as a member of the forum.

Also speaking, an educationist and a prominent community women leader in Offa, Alhaja Raliat Sanni, who is also the pioneer chairman of the Kwara State Teaching Service Commission, who applauded the forum for its magnanimity, charged students to face their studies, be disciplined morally and religiously, have respect for the elders.

She also charged them to handle the materials very carefully as some of them are not only expensive but also breakable.

Alhaja Raliat Sanni then appealed to other philanthropic organizations and individuals in Offa to emulate the forum, saying that by so doing, they are assisting in raising the low and declining standard of education in the ancient town.

The principals of the two benefitting schools i.e. Offa Community and Okin High School, Messers Salami and Balogun, thanked the forum for its kind gesture and pledged that the equipment would be used for the purpose intended.

Earlier in her welcome address, the President of Offa Professional Ladies Forum Professor (Mrs) Nike Sidikat Ijaiya, said the main focus of the forum is to contribute its own quota to the development and progress of Offa.

She said that since inception, activities of the forum had covered sensitizations of schools in Offa through counseling, covering importance of education, health issues, subject selection, career choices and moral development among others working in collaboration with ANCOPSS in Offa in addition to financial contributions to Offa development projects, sponsorship of Jamb, WAEC and NECO Examinations, support for the indigents of Offa girls in the University, presentation of materials to schools as we are doing today among others.

Professor Sidikat Ijaiya then decried the dwindling quality of education among the younger ones in the country today as many parents fail to give enough support and encouragement to their children while the children themselves are no longer interested in higher education.

She also felt concerned with the moral decadence spreading in Offa and the nation as a whole.

She, therefore, appealed to government, non-governmental organizations as well as wealthy individuals to support schools in the area through provision of qualified teachers, attractive pay for part time teachers most especially the retired but still active and sound ones, public education and sensitization of our mothers and fathers on moral and social development of their children of all ages through Radio jingles and public amplifier.

She also enjoined them to set up a town committee that would eventually compile the list of school certificate and JAMB results of all schools for the purpose of knowing how Offa schools are performing.

Professor Ijaiya then appealed to the teachers and students to use the materials for effective and efficient teaching and learning, adding that hardwork, honesty, caring, integrity, trustworthiness and other leadership qualities must be taught and imbibed.