Abiru: Redefining culture of service in Lagos East

While other politicians and elected public officers are building estates and other business empirers, Tokunbo Abiru and his wife, Feyisola, are building men for the future in Lagos East Senatorial District.

The chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Cornelius Ojelabi, led other party officers to Ikorodu at the weekend to witness the brand of visceral commitment and service to the community.

Senator Abiru, who represents the district the National Assembly, has expanded the scope of his programmes beyond lawmaking, oversight functions and empowerment to endowment, which is meant to prepare young men for the challenges of the digital economy.

No fewer than 4,000 teachers drawn from public and private schools from across the federation have been trained by a special and professional faculty at the SAIL Innovation Lab sponsored by the couple. Some of them demonstrated their skills at the Teachers’ Fellowship Graduation Ceremony, based on their training in enquiry learning using WhatsApp and Google. Thirty leaning hours were exhausted.

The programme attracted some support from the MTN Foundation, whose official, Odunayo Sanya, hailed Abiru for ploughing back to his immediate society.

Eminent community leaders at the ceremony held at SAIL Innovation Lab, along Muba Abiru Street, Ipakodo Ebute, Ikorodu, including the paramount ruler, Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, Oba Semiu Kasali Orimadegun, Radodu of Imota, Oba Ajibade Agoro, Governance Advisory Council (GAC) members-Prince Abiodun Ogunleye and Senator Seye Ogunlewe, and Ashipa Kaoli Olusanya, applauded the legislator for his contributions to human capital development.

In the mood of excitement were other guests-Tolani Sule, Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Anike Adekanye, permanent secretary/tutor-general, Bode Oyedele from Ibeju-Lekki, Adeola Jokomba, state party secretary, Muritala Seriki, youth leader, Dr. Saheed Ibikunle of primary education board, Tokunbo Jimoh, Kunle Oduborisa,Deaconess Ade Osinnowo, and Akintoye Hassan, chairman of Lagos Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT).

Many people, particularly teachers who were the focus, joined the programme online.

Thanking the couple for their initiative and support, Deji Abisola, chief impact officer of the programme, noted that they have touched many lives, judging by their numerous philanthropic and empowerment programmes. He said the teachers’ exposure to new classroom techniques have revolutionalised teaching and learning.

Abisola also thanked the MTN Foundation for providing free internet data and other resources. He hailed the teachers’ dedication to personal growth and commitment to the upbringing of students, stressing that the programme provided an opportunity for them to thrive.

To Miss Shalom of SAIL, the programme achieved three things: it aided the transition of the teachers from instructional to enquiry based learning; it enhanced the improvement of digital skills and it enabled them to embrace innovative classroom management practices.

Consistent with its two decades of community responsibility, Sanya explained that the investment of almost N60 million was worth it, adding that MTN decided to impact by partnering with the community to do better. The message is that 20 years after, the yellow impact is stronger. She hailed the teachers for contributing to nation building. “The knowledge is not for you only. You should spread the knowledge to other teachers.

MTN promised to build on its record of community support, including the award of 14,000 scholarship,empowerment of 15,000 women and donations to laboratories and libraries.

Abiru, who congratulated the teachers, told his story of success as a banker before becoming a public servant.

After three decades, the Senator crossed the bridge from banking to politics. Automation was the rule in the banking system then in Guarantee Trust Bank. It contrasts with the digital technological revolution of today.

To his surprise, 8,000 workers could not cope with the digital transformation. Therefore, it was evident that the the job openings required updated skills. As a senator, he emraced his legislative and empowerment roles. However, he had to expand the scope to endowment, based on previous experience. Although he had completed 20 school projects in his district, built a youth stadium in Epe, constructed markets, provided health facilities and distributed foods to 30,000 families, these programmes have not produced a permanent impact like his endowment programme.

“SAIL Lab Innovation is sponsored by me and my wife. It is a non-political organisation. I bring people here and the people being trained are assisted by them with jobs,” Abiru said.

The senator said that the scheme it later became a nationwide programme because of the partnership with MTN.

“Almost 9,000 lives have been touched by the SAIL Foundation. The procurement of facilities is not enough. We invested in a faculty that is focussed and dedicated,” he added.

Abiru said the goal is the development of human capital. It is free of charge. The environment is also inspirational. “The cost of teaching such skills for each participant cannot be less than N5 million. But it is free,” he said, urging the beneficiaries to apply and update their skills, and be good ambassadors of SAIL Innovation Lab.

For Sule, who was drafted to the event by Ojelabi, it was another eye opener. The commissioner acknowledged that the quality of well educated and well groomed teachers is critical to teaching and learning. Reiterating government’s commitment towards personnel training, he said:”Governor Sanwo-Olu is working to make Lagos the human development capital of Nigeria.”

Sule also suggested that “APC must look at the quality of representation and emphasise the criteria of capability, experience and background.”

He added: “Abiru is big; so Lagos East is reaping big.”

Ojelabi, whose path had crossed Abiru’s when they both served as commissioners under former Governor Babatunde Fashola, said the senator has decided to plogh back to the community.

“The party is delighted by the contribution of Abiru. He is doing more than material empowerment. Some people collect the empowerment items and sell them out.

“Abiru is preparing the youths for the future, to become job creators and employers of labour. Ikorodu has decided to support APC because of what Abiru is doing.”

The party chairman said elected public officers on the platform of Lagos APC will be evaluated periodically to see how they are performing.

Ojelabi added:”APC will be assessing the House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate members. That of local government chairmen has been done. We are evaluating to see the impact they are making. We will make the report out after ratification by the GAC. Let people continue to support Abiru.”