The Chairperson 2025 Itaogbolu Day and Fundraising Ceremonies, Tomisin Edu-Falade, says his foundation would be sponsoring best graduating student from the community to study any course of their choise at a private university (Adeleke University, Ede).
Edu-Falade while speaking with the residents and fellow indigenes of Itaogbolu in Akure North local government area during the 2025 Itaogbolu Day and Fundraising Ceremonies for developmental projects.
This is as she praised president Bola Tinubu for keeping Nigeria on the path of new development and also acknowledged the governor of Ondo State for sustaining peace and progress in various communities across the state.
The Chairperson, who said the town is blessed with talented people and youths, said education would always remain close to her heart and through her Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), assured of her commitment to lift children higher.
“Every year, the foundation awards a full scholarship to the best graduating students to study at Adeleke University, one of the leading private universities in Nigeria, in any course of their choice, and we are starting from home today, as one of our daughters from Itaogbolu received this year’s scholarship.
“Whenever I come home to Itaogbolu, I am reminded of the greatness in our people, the strength of our farmers, the dedication of our traders, the dreams of our youth, and the wisdom of our elders. These are the pillars that make this community fresher. As we celebrate today, we also appreciate the leaders that keep our nation and state moving forward.
“We thank our president, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his effort to keep Nigeria on the path of new development. We also appreciate the governor of Ondo State for sustaining peace and progress in our communities.
“Today is not a political rally, it is a cultural festival. But as a daughter of this soil, I will always stand for the dignity, unity, and future of our people. We will continue to support leaders who mean well for this nation and who are committed to taking Nigeria forward.
“As we look ahead to 2027, Itaogbolu is blessed, our people are talented, our youths are brilliant, and together our tomorrow will be greater than today. In that spirit, education will always remain close to my heart and through my NGO, we will continue to lift our children higher.
“Every year, the foundation awards a full scholarship to the best graduating students to study at Adeleke University, one of the leading private universities in Nigeria, in any course of their choice, and we are starting from home today, as one of our daughters from Itaogbolu received this year’s scholarship.
“This is not a promise, it is something we have been doing consistently. Six students have already benefited from my NGO and by God’s grace, many more will come out from Akure North.
“So, let us continue to support one another, encourage our youth, celebrate our traditions, and protect the legacy handed down to us. The strength of a community lies in the unity of its people and yet today, I see that unity clearly.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman, Itaogbolu Day Planning Committee, Abiodun Awolusi appealed to the sons and daughters of Itaogbolu to wake up on the development of Itaogbolu.
Later, Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa vowed to initiate more development projects across the communities of each local government area of the state in order to meet the evolving needs of the state.
The governor said that the ongoing Akure-Itaogbolu/Iju-Ikere major road would soon be completed.
Aiyedatiwa, represented by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Sunday Olajide, said the completion would help to curb the incessant accidents along the major road.
In his address, titled; “It is time to arise again”, the Ogbolu of Itaogbolu, Oba Idowu Faborode said; “to arise again is not to wish for a bygone era, but to harness the enduring spirit of our people to build a future even greater than our past. This resurgence, my people, rests on four sacred pillars; education, the welfare of our people, government intervention and our town’s land.”
To ourselves as a community, we shall revitalise our scholarship schemes, we shall encourage and reward our best students, we shall partner with our sons and daughters to establish vocational training centres, so that those whose talents lie in their hands are not left behind.
Oba Faborode added that, “An educated Itaogbolu is an empowered Itaogbolu, capable of leading in every field of human endeavours.”
