Indigenes of Ekiti State in various parts of the world have donated 200 pairs of school shoes worth N500,000 to pupils of Community Primary School, Igbehin Ile-Aaro, Erijiyan in Ekiti West Local Government Area of the state.

The Erijiyan gesture, according to sons and daughters of Ekiti State grouped under the aegis of Ekiti in Diaspora for Economic and Social Development (EDESC), was first in the series meant to distribute empowerment materials and infrastructure worth about N50 million to primary and secondary schools across the state.

The body, made up of indigenes of the state based in Europe, America, Africa and other parts of the world, said the members aimed at contributing to the development of education in the state in what was tagged “Footstep to a Better Future for Erijiyan primary school students.”

In an address by EDESC President, Mr Julius Akinyemi, presented by Mr. Bodunde Olorunfemi, at the school compound, the group said the dream to empower the students and schools of Ekiti State was “conceived by your brothers and sisters that formed the EDESC a few years ago.”

The statement added: “You may ask why the shoes? We thought of many things we could do but, given the various activities the government is already doing or planned to do, we concluded on the shoes as a way of building our knowledge base.

EDESC added that it was also “because we hope that having a comfortable pair of shoes to walk to school will encourage you to go to school and also put you in readiness mode to learn.”

The Ekiti indigenes said “this is the first of many support projects we plan to implement in future by God’s grace.”

They charged the pupils to “fulfil their own end of the bargain, pointing out that “the bargain is that you will work hard with integrity, you will aim high and be trust worthy and never give up believing in ourselves.”

EDESC noted that the school was chosen as the pilot for the project because they felt it was in dire need of help, adding that the body was going to intervene in provision of school uniforms, school sandals, building of classrooms and provision of instructional and teaching aids that could effectively help teaching and learning.

The Ekiti West Local Government Education Secretary, Mr. Babatunde Babalola, who represented the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Dr. Eniola Ajayi, commended the gesture of EDESC, saying it was a step that would further deepen public-private partnership in education in the state.

Earlier, the headmistress of the school, Mrs. E.T. Osamiluyi, thanked EDESC for the gesture and charged the state government and other well-meaning citizens of the community and the state to make the school more conducive for learning